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

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.

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).

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

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Jazz Café Jam. July 22.

Steve Glendinning (gtr); Paul Grainger (bs); Paul Wight (dms). + Debra Mil;ne. Ann Alex, Ewa Szymczewska (vcls); Paul Scott (gtr/vcl); Paul Gowland (alt); Richard Herdman (gtr); Ray Truscott (bs); Johnny Davis (ten); Andy ? (ten) + ? (drums); ? (piano); ? (gtr) etc.
(Review by Lance).
The advertised Peter Gilligan was in Manchester so it was guitarist Steve Glendinning who took on the role of lynch pin 'twixt house band and jammers of which there were an abundance tonight.
The room too was crowded and the atmosphere was as sizzling as the setting sun outside. Too much to recall in detail.
Guitarists: Apart from Steve Glendinning, who was his usual immaculate self handling everything that was thrown at him, Richard Herdman also impressed and the numbers played together Have You Met Miss Jones for example really gelled. Another guitarist, who may have been with the hordes of younger folks (tourists?) who filled the room, also hit the spot with Chick Corea's 500 Miles High. Paul Scott not only played brilliantly but also sang I'll See You in my Dreams and Don't Blame Me - a touch of early Frankie Laine in his singing.
Singers: Apart from Scott, Debra Milne gave us Senor Blues, Ewa sang If I Were a Bell and I'm Beginning to See the Light and BSH's own Ann Alex sang I Got Rhythm and Imagination.
Saxes: Paul Gowland blew fiery alto and had a joust with tenorist Johnny Davis, himself no slouch, during the course of Senor Blues whilst another tenor player, Andy, joined the fray for Heather's vocals.
Drums: Paul Wight was, as always, driving the bus tonight but given some respite by an impressive young man. Ian Forbes was waiting in the wings but didn't hang around - possibly a song too far for him!
Bass: Paul Grainger on double bass alternated with Ray T on six string electric both adding their own individuality.
Piano: In the absence of Gilligan, the upright remained upright. One of the young visitors did sit in for Blue Bossa and, given the shortcomings of the instrument, did well.
There may have been other singers and instrumentalists that I've overlooked - it was one of those nights when everything seemed to be happening - my apologies also to those whose names I didn't catch.
It was a quite unique evening.
Lance.

1 comment :

KneelC said...

Post session one of the young visitors , a Greek gent, got up and played an accomplished mini set including a rendition of the Muppet Show opening theme and a sublime piece he claimed was from his Greek heritage . Unfortunately most of the crowd had left and they missed a real treat, it was worth missing your last bus for!

Blog Archive