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, April 04, 2015

Ruth Lambert/Stuart Collingwood @ Vermont Hotel, Newcastle - April 3

Ruth Lambert (vcl); Stuart Collingwood (pno).
(Review by Lance).
This was a very Good Friday indeed! A solo set by Paul Edis at the Jazz Caff (reviewed by Russell above) put me in the right frame of mind for the short hop across the city centre to the Vermont Hotel. There was a full moon so where else could one celebrate it other than Vermont?
After the intensity  of listening to a solo recital by Paul Edis - don't get me wrong Paul, this is meant as a compliment - I thought the 3 days long piece by Freddy Chopin was fantastic and as one who struggled with the Schaum books I could but gasp in awe! However, once seated in the plush Redwood Bar of the Vermont Hotel listening to Stuart Collingwood comping and soloing with Ruth Lambert how blessed (I use the word blessed as it's Good Friday) I felt to be able to hear such fine, albeit, different, music on a night when the area between the two gigs was awash with - hobbledehoys and ne'er-do-wells. Doubt if Chopin was high on their play list!
Back to Vermont - Pennies in a stream...  Pennies don't come into the equation here! But why should they? This is a 4 star hotel giving residents classy, sophisticated music by the best Newcastle has to offer.
Soft, gentle and laid back, Ruth and Stu rubber stamped Is You Is or Is You Ain't my Baby?; Blue Moon; A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square; That Old Devil Moon; Let's Fall in Love and a Bonnie Raitt number that upped the ante. I'd have hung around longer but the number 27 was approaching. I enjoyed what I heard..
Lance.
PS: 4 star hotel? it gained an extra 2 stars tonight!

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