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, December 08, 2013

Keith Stephen's Hot Club Trio Featuring Caroline Irwin @ Ashington Jazz Club December 4.

Keith Stephen (Guitar), Roly Veitch (Guitar), Bruce Rollo (Bass), Caroline (Irwin) Stephen (Vocals)
(Review by Peter Sanderson).
The  December gathering of the faithful members at Ashington Jazz Club would not be the same without this combo. As the 2012 meeting was cancelled due to poor weather we had waited a long time for this evening. A good audience arrived and, to adopt a phrase from a pop song of the fifties, "Ooo what a night we had, such a night." 
Motherhood has obviously been a great experience for Caroline who took to the stage with an air of confidence and maturity. I would suggest the voice is different and more accomplished as she presented a number of lyrics with vigour and an assurance in her ability to entertain, surprise and delight her audience with a wide range of lyrics. The quality of the musicians who support her  does not go unnoticed  playing a major role in delivering each superb performance. Keith on lead guitar has such skill while the ever dependable and incomparable Roly Veitch is there driving the rhythm forward with ease. He also sings well in a sort of gentle Chet Baker style adding his own emotional feeling to the lyrics. What can you say about Bruce Rollo. His style reminds me of Slam Sterwart of B.G. Groups which I adored as a young Jazz enthusiast. How he achieves such movement is beyond me but his rare style is just brilliant. The Band put a smile on a happy audience which was what this evening was all about so near to Christmas.
PROGRAMME - Exactly Like You, Walking After Midnight, Bie Mir Bist du Schoen (you know that one -I do my best but not German), Django's Castle, Dinah, Autumn Leaves, Winter Wonderland, Dr. Jazz, Happy as the Day is Long. Minor Swing, Speak to me of Love, Red Hot Mama, Stars Fell on Alabama, Shine, Wonderful World, La Vie en Rose, China Boy, I Get the Blues When it Rains, Running Wild, and the encore Santa Baby.
On this the final AJC meet of the year may I thank all our members for their support in 2013. Without you we would not have a Jazz Club.
To all those wonderful musicians and bands who have travelled to our most Northerly Jazz Club and appeared on our stage we appreciate your making the journey. I hope you have a good working Christmas and may  2014 bring you many gigs. Good health and thank you from AJC.
A big thanks to The Elephant for allowing our Club to move forward . We thank you for your cooperation. Best Wishes.
Finally, we would like to show our gratitude to Lance Liddle and Bebop Spoken Here who have given AJC the publicity we need.
To all Jazz enthusiasts our there "Keep Jazzing". Thank John Taylor for making all this happen.
We take a break  now until our first meeting of the New Year .when Alter Ego will be our guests.  Wednesday February 5th.  at 8.00 p.m.  See  you there.
Peter S.

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