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

Sunday, July 03, 2016

Steve Glendinning Quartet @ The Globe - July 2.

Steve Glendinning (gtr); Chris Jelly (vbs); Mike Clarke (bs gtr); Mark Robertson (dms)
(Review by Lance)
I've got mixed emotions about this gig. Thrilled and proud to have been there, sad for those who missed it, whilst, at the same time, greeting those absentees with a fully justified "na-na-na-na-na"!
You thought you'd heard good vibes earlier this week? Man, you ain't heard nuttin' yet! Chris Jelly is to vibes playing what Mark Cavendish is to sprinting!
It began low-key with Glendinning playing an unaccompanied piece by a lutist from the court of Louis XIV, proving that jazz did begin with Louis.
So What?, you might say as the quartet segued into the Miles Davis classic from Kind of Blue. Vibes, guitar and bass answering the question punctuated by drums. This was just the start.
Next up, East of the Sun. Great song going back to the days of Sinatra with Dorsey and beyond. The quartet had used it earlier for a soundcheck and here it was in all its glory. If I never hear a better version then I will die happy!
Watch What Happens - a fast bossa nova - showed off all four before slowing down for an emotive A Time For Love.
Both Steve and Chris are lynchpins in the funky outfit known as King Bee so it was no surprise that the first set concluded with an item from that genre - Big Ship (at least I think that was the title!)
The second set began with more solo guitar before hitting the deck with either Chick Corea's Spain or Meet the Flintstones - can't remember which! What's in a name?!
A Pat Metheny number then, for me, the next number was the number 12 bus.
Superb session!
Lance.

2 comments :

Minnie Fraser (on F/b) said...

They were awesome!!!

Steven T. said...

No question, I'd have been there if I hadn't been elsewhere. The bad news is it'll no doubt be a period of time before his hands heal and he can do it again.
He's definitely one of the few, with Lord Paul and AC.
No disrespect to Steve either; a fine guitarist and a really nice lad and no 1 son was chuffed to play with him (on the Friday night after GIJF) before he toddles off. Sights now on MW.
And an Ornette Coleman thing at the Bridge tonight! Ever get the feeling you've been stitched up?

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