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

Thu 19: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: George Shearing Jazz Moments.

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.

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.

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, November 10, 2013

Tanton-Williams – Salsa Café and Tapas Bar – Saturday November 9

Pete Tanton (Flugel/Trumpet) Mark Williams (Guitar) Mark Robertson (Drums) John Pope (D.Bass) + Christine Ben-Ameh (vcl).
(Review by Kath Jobes.)
Salsa Café and Tapas Bar witnessed the genius of another group of talented musicians brought together in the form of Tanton-Williams.  The set commenced with a lively version of Four featuring Tanton on Flugelhorn… his main instrument of the night, chosen for its gentler timbre while folks were dining.  This was followed by One Note Samba and a mellow version of Sunny
A Horace Silver tune, Nica’s Dream, celebrated Mark Williams’ easy style supported by the walking bass of John Pope. The feel moved between Latin and swing and incorporated a lovely bass solo.  A switch to trumpet for Pete Tanton produced a vivacious rendition of Straight No Chaser.  Next came a change of mood with a very melodic You Don’t Know What Love Is and when Sunny Rollins’ Oleo modulated into Anthropology,  the first set drew to an interesting close.
A chilled start to the second set with the Wayne Shorter number, Footprints, generating an exquisite ambience with the skilled guitar of Williams complemented by the double bass of Pope.  Girl from Ipanema displayed gentle flugelhorn and melodic guitar supported by the Latin rhythms of Robertson and a lovely rhythmic bass from Pope. A Mark Williams original – Booze Blues once again exhibited the bass skills of John Pope.  A warm and chocolaty version of Moon River ensued and this beautiful tune was followed by a lively rendition of When I Fall in Love.  The flair of Mark Roberson on drums was evident during How Insensitive and then we were bestowed with a fabulous treat… a member of the audience, Christine Ben-Ameh, joined the band in a beautiful and soulful expression of the song, Smile… what an entrance to the Newcastle Music Scene… I hope we will be seeing a lot more of this talented singer during the next two years while she is with us in ‘The Toon’.  The final number of the night, How High the Moon brought the evening to an enchanting end… I would love to see this venue develop a nice friendly jam session… might have a word with my mate Mo… so watch this space Jazzers!
Kath J.

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