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

Wed 18: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 18: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 18: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

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.

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

Monday, March 31, 2014

Double LP Review: Nat Birchell Quintet - Live in Larissa... Divine Harmony in Duende Jazz Bar.

Nat Birchall (ten/sop/bells.perc); Adam Fairhall (pno); Corey Mwamba (vbs/bells); Nick Blakka (bs); Paul Hessian (dms).
(Review by Lance)
Although my review copies were on CD this interesting double album is available only on vinyl or Download.
Recorded live in the Duende Jazz Bar, Larissa, Greece, Birchall took this decision after listening to the tapes. His conclusion was that the music really suited the warmth of vinyl although I've no complaints about the CD sound.
Those familiar with the musicians, and one sometimes gets the impression that Corey Mwamba is a Tynesider such are his frequent visits to the region, will know that this isn't going to be a stroll in the park. Infinite variety are the core words here. Tenderness and romance midst multi-coloured textures sooth the savaged breast and whilst the temperature in the pet shop reaches extremes during the freer moments I don't think the inmates were burnt, maybe just a little singed. In other words, it's contemporary but accessible.
Birchall excels on both tenor and soprano. John Coltrane, from Clifford Jordan's Glass Bead Games album takes up all of side one and the tenor playing is indeed very Tranelike. Solos all round with Mwamba, Fairhall, Blakka and Hessian all stretching out.
Alice Coltrane's Journey in Satchidananda is the opener to the second album and here Birchall achieves an almost clarinet-like fluency as he takes lines inspired by Pharoah Sanders on the original Alice Coltrane recording. Listen too to Fairhall on piano logically taking Birchall's solo in his own direction before handing the baton to Blakka on bass. After the bassist's melodic interlude it's back to Birchall for a fade out finish.
World Without Form is from Birchall's previous studio album of the same name. In fact several of the tracks on this live recording were also on the studio recording. I haven't heard the earlier recording so I'm unable to compare but if it is anything like this one then maybe a coin will have to be spun. Alternatively spin several coins and buy both albums.
Nat Birchall Quintet - Live in Larissa... Divine Harmony in Duende Jazz Bar is available from April 28 on Sound Soul and Spirit Records NB 003 (Distribution by Kudos).
Lance.
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