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

Friday, May 15, 2015

Pilgrim St. Set @ Hoochie Coochie - May 14.

Richard Burns (tpt); Gary Turner (ten); Paul Edis (keys); Paul Susans (bs); Rob Walker (dms).
(Review by Lance).
It was during the soundcheck that 'roo trumpet player Richard and owner Warren exchanged comments.
"We could put a mic on the drums" said Richard.
Warren's reply was straight out of Ladies Home Journal (not!) 
Fortunately, at the time, Hoochie had only as many bums on seats as the Green Party - i.e. mine!
However, by the time they hit the deck running, the Lib Dems had been overtaken and the SNP was in sight!
Rob is arguably the best drummer on Tyneside and, unarguably, the loudest! Richard, found this out after stuffing a Harmon (trumpet mute) into the bell for the opening number - great drum solo.
Gary fought fire with fire and soon Rob was the one struggling to be heard!
However, come the second number, the Harmon was relegated to the back bench, the balance sorted and it was game on!
This was a Gary original that was, maybe, called Amarillo, Armadillo or I'm a Gorilla depending on how well you speak Australian. What's in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name etc...
As befits the composer of the tune Gary batted first - if Kevin Pieterson played tenor as opposed to cricket this would have been him in full flight and selection guaranteed.
Progress, by Richard had a great Jazz Messengers feel about it and Paul Susans impressed.
By way of interest, the whole rhythm section was Triptych who play at the Lit and Phil next Friday lunchtime (May 22) and at the Gala theatre, Durham today (May 15, 1pm.).
Paul Edis' We Get Along. Paul was introduced as "our keyboard player - we used to say pianist or piano man" I like the Aussie humour and indeed the trumpet playing.
And so the evening unfolded. Each number better than the last but not as good as the next one.
Even Happy Birthday sounded good.
The Pilgrim Street Set? It should be the Frith Street Set!
Catch them again on June 11.
Lance.

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