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

Tuesday, March 01, 2016

CD Review: Aldevis Tibaldi London Jazz Ensemble - twentysix three

John Eacott (tpt/flug); Aldevis Tibaldi (ten/sop); Paul Taylor (tmb); Liam Dunachie (pno); Richard Sadler (bs); Chris Gale (dms).
(Review by Lance)
Becoming more and more disillusioned by what is passed off as jazz these days a disc such as this gives me hope for the future. 
Imagine Mingus*, Monk** and Ellington***, composing and arranging today and you get an inkling of where this is at. Indeed, the three composers mentioned actually provide the only non-original compositions on the album, the rest coming from the pen of leader Tibaldi.
Taylor's plunger solo on the opening Hunting Goose laid down the band's manifesto which I interpret as, "We will build for the future whilst maintaining the noble traditions of the past."
They do this admirably without, for one moment, suggesting that we are anywhere but in 2016. John Eacott, referred to by our JC in his memorable visit to the '606',  blows some fine trumpet and Tibaldi chips in with impressive solos on both soprano and tenor. The Italian, seemingly, is making waves on the London scene and deservedly so - he's an exciting and lyrical player.
Dunachie, is the kind of piano player that, at one time, seemed to have been washed away with the tide. Not so, he comps and solos - he swings for today. Swinging, as a verb, isn't a dirty word, music wise, on discs like this.
Black and Tan Fantasy respects Duke but doesn't pay lip service. Sadler on bass - bass rhymes with ace - on Black and Tan, he remembers Blanton but his ears are up the road. Gale, not only drums but co-produces along with Tibaldi and the result is nothing less than super satisfying.
My only problem with this excellent album is the title - wtf is twentysix three all about?
Lance.
* Weird Nightmare.
** We See.
*** Black and Tan Fantasy.

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