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

Monday, December 05, 2016

CD Review: Chris Ingham Quartet - Dudley.

Chris Ingham (piano); Paul Higgs (trumpet); Rev. Andrew J. Brown (bass); George Double (drums) + Harry Greene (tenor final track)
(Review by Lance).
We remember Dudley Moore as one of the outstanding British jazz pianists. In the world of the Unjazz Dudley was renowned as a comedian/actor. However, what neither parallel universes may have realised is that he was also a composer of merit who contributed scores to a number of movies that many considered to be better than the movies themselves (take note John Wilson for next season).
Personally, Dud and Pete did nothing for me on TV but, listening to Dudley Moore's piano did! I remember when I worked in that Newcastle music store and the day that Chris Karan (Dud's drummer) came in to buy some sticks - it was like I'd met the man who sat on the right hand of God! And maybe I had.
Ingham doesn't attempt to impersonate Moore, instead, he focuses on Dudley's compositions and, with his three cohorts, brings these works to the attention they deserve.
Paul Higgs' trumpet playing fits the mood, Rev. Brown cuts his cloth and Double does the biz.
As a matter of local interest, on Ingham's previous CD - Hoagy - Russ Morgan played drums.
A delightful CD - not one for the Steves to review but tailor-made for an old smoothie like me to relax and listen to with a gin and vermouth in the company of a number 10. Well, I've got the gin and the vermouth all I need is the... (shrugs) You can't win 'em all.
A good CD capable of standing on its own merits but also a worthy tribute to one of the British jazz piano greats by a British jazz pianist who ain't no slouch either!.
Lance.

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