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

Saturday, December 28, 2013

Gilligan, Williams and Forbes December 27 - The Jazz Café

Pete Gilligan (Piano); Mark Williams (Guitar); Don Forbes (Trumpet).
(Review by Kath Jobes).
Life is complicated enough. And jazz is just a chance to escape from it, at least for a moment…Cabin fever had set in at home and I needed some Jazz, so off I went to the Jazz Café for what can only be described as a bouncing night!  The first set was just Gilligan and Williams, who were later joined in the second set by Don Forbes and his trusty trumpet.
Charlie Parker’s Billie’s Bounce set us away with a superb piano solo from Pete, it’s great to see this talented musician back home in the Café.  A lovely arrangement of Keith Jarrett’s Memories of Tomorrow led on to another lively tune this time we were Bouncing With Bud, with an enjoyable call and response section between piano and guitar.  Jim Hall’s captivating Waltz New was followed by a couple of Horace Silver’s tunes - the lively The St. Vitus Dance and Summer in Central Park, with Williams as ever, playing magnificently.  A brief interlude of Michel Petrucciani's September 2nd, then back to Silver with Opus De Funk to end this set.
Set Two commenced again with the Gillingham/Williams duo with Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most, beautiful as an instrumental, but I love Ella’s version. Chick Corea’s Spain followed on, but without the lovely Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez introduction… which is actually my favourite bit… so ok I love a bit of Classical fused with jazz!   Finally Don Forbes joined the guys to play an enjoyable There Will Never Be Another You. His proficient playing continued in Frank Foster’s Simone - delightful …as was You and the Night and the MusicNico’s Dream and Come Rain Come Shine written by Harold Arlen with lyrics by Johnny Mercer... again Ella does a lovely rendition, rounded off a very entertaining night… thanks guys!
Kath J.

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