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

18317 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 171 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Feb. 23), 71

From This Moment On ...

February

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).

Sat 28: Boys of Brass @ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Sat 28: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Repas 7 by Night, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:30pm.
Sat 28: Ray Stubbs R&B Allstars @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. Free.

March

Sun 01: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 01: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free Quintet + guest Dan Johnson (tenor sax).
Sun 01: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00.
Sun 01: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: Fergus McCreadie & Matt Carmichael @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 3:00-4:30pm.
Sun 01: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: Littlewood Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £10.00., £8.00. adv., £6.00. 25 & under. Marcus Dawe (piano); Ifedi Osiyemi (bass); Jack Littlewood (drums).

Mon 02: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 02: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 02: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

Tue 03: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 03: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Jacob Egglestone (guitar); Paul Grainger (double bass); Bailey Rudd (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

Saturday, July 20, 2013

Sage Summertyne Americana Festival 2013; Fri July 19 to Sun July 21

The Mavericks Hall 1 Friday July 19
Raul Malo (lead vocals, guitar) Eddie Perez (guitar) Jerry Dale McFadden (keys)  Paul Deakin (drums);Other instruments are guitars, trumpet, sax, accordion, bass, and various percussion.  Sorry, didn't catch the names of the musicians.
(Review by Ann Alex)
Not a jazz band, but music influenced by country, 1950’s pop, Tex-Mex, Latin and Cajun.  Three tiers of Hall 1 were full of very enthusiastic fans of all ages who lapped it up, clapped along and stood to move around to the music.  The band was very rousingly led by Malo.  The keyboards player was ultra extravert, dancing as he played and jumping about.  The bass player stood out because of his mode of dress, all in black except for a golden cross, and white jacket and top hat.   
This band had a big hit with Dance The Night Away, which readers must surely have heard on the radio.  Tonight they were playing mainly songs from their latest album In Time.  Numbers included Born To Be Blue; You Don’t Have To Love Me, Just Pretend; Mr Lonely; Dance In The Moonlight. Not sure if all these titles are correct, but you get the idea, mostly love songs.  The first encore was just Malo with guitar, doing a moving version of Here Comes The Sun, then the band returned with generous further encores because of audience demand, so they continued with numbers such as Guantenamera and Twist And Shout, BSH left at this point, so for all I know, they could be playing yet to an appreciative audience!      
The Reception
Earlier, we were treat to a press reception with a difference.  Instead of nibbles of vol au vents, salmon and sausages on sticks, we were offered genuine Americana food – jambalaya and corn bread, as mentioned in the songs.  Jambalaya is rather like a spicy chicken risotto and the corn bread had pieces of sweetcorn, a delicious flavour.  Yummy!
After s short introduction from Ros Rigby, up stepped Raul Malo of The Mavericks with his guitar, playing a spirited rendition of Blue Bayou.  And not one singer but two, as we also had a Johnny Cash song from Jon Langford (Mekons, Waco Brothers).  There is a free exhibition of Langford’s paintings in the Sage this weekend, well worth seeing.  The paintings are of American music giants such as Hank Williams, and are for sale.
Free Outdoor Stage.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch - or rather the Free Outdoor Stage - more cooking with Rob Heron and the Tea Pad Orchestra, Big Red and the Grinners and a number of country bands. 
Oh, and of course, Matthew E. White and the McCrary Sisters were over in Hall 2 - like at the International Jazz Festival there is just so so much going on.
Ann Alex.

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