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

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Rural Touring with the Nicola Farnon Trio - Dates for your Diary

Nicola Farnon Trio
This close-knit, swinging outfit play classy arrangements of popular standards and a mix of swing, Latin and the moving, heart rending ballads that people never tire of. With Nicola Farnon (vocals and double bass), Piero Tucci (piano and tenor sax) and Phil Johnson (drums), you get a lot of musical talent for such a small band.  A joyfully entertaining evening of music and melody to swing yer socks off to.
Sheffields Nicola Farnon manages to combine her exceptional talents of singing and playing bass with a delightfully original and very inclusively warm and witty performance: Piero Tucci - 'a jazzer's dream, as unpretentiously skilful on keys as he is on sax’ -  is breathtaking to not just listen to but watch, especially when he decides to play both instruments simultaneously and Phil Johnson drives the whole performance with an intense and propulsive drumming method which still retains a sensitivity that allows the overall song to shine through. These three musicians combine to give a performance that will startle audiences with its genuine love of music and melody.
Tour Dates.
Northumberland
Saturday 21st March 7.30pm                        Howick Village Hall  Howick Village, nr Alnwick NE66 3LE
Tickets: £8/£4 child/ £20 family                 Bookings: 01665 577 384  or online www.highlightsnorth.co.uk

Sunday 22nd March 7.30pm                          Holy Cross Church  Haltwhistle, NE49 0BL
£7.50/£6.50 child/£18 family                       Bookings:  01434 320 260 or online www.highlightsnorth.co.uk

Sunday 29th March 7.30pm                           Holy Trinity Church, Matfen NE20 0TF
Tickets: £10/ £6 child                                      Bookings: 01661 886 592 or online www.highlightsnorth.co.uk

Cumbria & Durham
Thursday 19th March 7.30pm                       Dufton Village Hall  Dufton, Appleby, Cumbria CA1 6DB
£8/ £4 child/ £20 family                                 Bookings: 01768 352 902

Friday 20th March 8pm                                   Levens Village Institute  Levens, Cumbria LA8 8NL
£8/ £4 child £20 family                                   Bookings: 015935 60534  or online www.highlightsnorth.co.uk

Friday 27th March 8pm                                   Threlkeld  Village Hall  Threlkeld, Penrith, Cumbria CA12 4RX
£7.50/ £4 child/ £19 family                           Bookings:  017687 79536  or online www.highlightsnorth.co.uk

Saturday 28th March 8pm                              Garrigill Village Hall  Garrigill, Cumbria CA9 3DS

£10/ £7 child/ £30 family                              Bookings: 01434 647516  or online www.highlightsnorth.co.uk

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