Bebop Spoken There

Dominick "Domo" Branch: ''Most people say drummers can't write, they're just time-keepers only beating on things. But I have a very musical brain.'' (DownBeat February, 2026)

The Things They Say!

This is a good opportunity to say thanks to BSH for their support of the jazz scene in the North East (and beyond) - it's no exaggeration to say that if it wasn't for them many, many fine musicians, bands and projects across a huge cross section of jazz wouldn't be getting reviewed at all, because we're in the "desolate"(!) North. (M & SSBB on F/book 23/12/24)

Postage

18288 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 142 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Feb. 14), 42

From This Moment On ...

February

Fri 20: Alex Clarke w. Dean Stockdale Trio @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT! Clarke w. Dean Stockdale, Mick Shoulder, Abbie Finn.
Fri 20: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 20: Squabble @ Warkworth Memorial Hall. 7:00pm. Steve Chambers (organ); Jude Murphy (double bass, vocals); Sid White (drums).
Fri 20: Jive Aces @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:00pm (6:30pm doors).
Fri 20: Alex Clarke w. Dean Stockdale Trio @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Clarke w. Dean Stockdale, Mick Shoulder, Abbie Finn.

Sat 21: ???

Sun 22: Musicians Unlimited: Big Band Blast @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00-3:00pm . Free.
Sun 22: Joe Steels Group @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. A Blue Patch album tour.
Sun 22: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: Harben Kay Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 23: Joe Steels Group @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. A Blue Patch album tour.
Mon 23: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 24: Finn-Keeble Group @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £11.00.
Tue 24: Liam Oliver & Shayo Oshodi @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 25: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 25: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 25: Geordie Jazz Jam @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. Newcastle University jam session. All welcome.
Wed 25: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 26: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £6.50.
Thu 26: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00 adv.
Thu 26: Mick Cantwell Band @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Blues.

Fri 27: Joe Steels Group @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT! A Blue Patch album tour.
Fri 27: Alan Barnes w. Mick Shoulder Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. Trio: Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 27: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 27: Radio Hito + Eddie Prévost, Silvain Schmid & Tom Wheatley @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £12.22., £10.10., £8.00.
Fri 27: Giacomo Smith w Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.
Fri 27: Alan Barnes w. Mick Shoulder Trio @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £15.00. Trio: Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Claire Martin, Joe Stilgoe, Mark McGann, Northern Sinfonia Pay Tribute to Lennon and McCartney @ Sage Gateshead.

Northern Sinfonia; Claire Martin: Joe Stilgoe; Mark McGann.
In my defence, your 'onour, every gig I've ever  been to in 'all One began at 7:30pm. Them as is in 'all Two do their thing at 8pm. So, tonight, my old mucker Andy 'udson and me strolled down to Sage Gateshead with an independent air only to have our sanguineti desanguetinesed when we were informed the concert had begun at 7pm!
7pm! I know folk who aren't even out of bed at that hour! But, c'est la vie. 
I don't know what we missed but what we didn't miss was good.
Mark McGann (famous Liverpool background) sang I Should Have Known Better and few could have sung it  better! Stilgoe did one of the best Beatle tunes - Here There and Everywhere. That is class!
Claire Martin - and she was the big attraction for me - did a beautiful and emotive version of A Ticket to Ride. - I'd have bought a ticket for that trip! Yesterday had Claire making me wish I'd met her Yesterday!
The set finished with all three singing All You Need Is Love which, upon reflection, is about right!
The Northern Sinfonia were as professional as they always are but the silky smooth string section were sheer perfection. By comparison, the brass read the parts but didn't quite achieve the empathy that the strings did.
Second set - Claire's reading of Eleanor Rigby was possibly the highlight of this set although the magnificent line from Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds - the girl with kaleidoscope eyes - reminded us that these two scousers were songwriters to be ranked alongside the best.
Claire's Fool on the Hill rubber stamped their credentials.
It was a good concert - no jazz but I didn't expect any. Loved Claire, Joe I'd like to catch on a piano/vocal jazz gig. McGann - love to meet his tailor!
Lance.
at

2 comments :

Anonymous said...

The first song you list says it all really - Check your tickets!!

It's really annoying when audience members pile out of the pub and saunter into a Sage gig late. The Sage seem to be on top of this now and at least limit late entrants to a gap in the performance.

Monday, May 27, 2013 9:16:00 pm
Lance said...

I couldn't agree more! I should have checked the times. The last thing I wanted was to not see the whole show.

Monday, May 27, 2013 9:35:00 pm

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