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

18263 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 117 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Feb. 6), 17

From This Moment On ...

February

Thu 12: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00. CANCELLED!

Fri 13: Noel Dennis Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm . £9.00. Dennis (trumpet, flugelhorn); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 13: Joe Steels @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 13: Tom Remon & John Moriarty @ The Ship Isis, Silksworth Row, Sunderland SR1 3QJ. 7:00pm. £10.00 + £1.00 bf.
Fri 13: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm.

Sat 14: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Sat 14: Big Joe Louis + Michael Littlefield @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £16.00. Jumpin’ Hot Club.
Sat 14: Brass Fiesta @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 10:30pm. Free.

Sun 15: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Trio + Jason Holcomb. Free.
Sun 15: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Wild Women of Wylam @ Ye Olde Cross, Ryton. 7:30pm. Free.
Sun 15: Yorkshire Gypsy Swing Collective @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 16: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 16: Jasper Lo + Daniel Chandler Trio @ Little Buildings, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £7.00. + bf.
Mon 16: Joe Steels Group @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00. A Blue Patch album tour.

Tue 17: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Victoria & Albert Inn, Seaton Delaval. 12:30pm. £9.50. Tickets: 0191 237 3697. ‘Jazz ‘n’ Pancakes’.
Tue 17: John Pope & John Garner @ The Great Hall, Sutherland Building, Northumbria University. 1:15pm. Free. Double bass & violin.
Tue 17: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Stu Collingwood (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); John Hirst (drums).

Wed 18: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 18: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 18: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

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 28, 2017

CD Review: Gianni Bianchini - Type 1

Gianni Bianchini (piano/vocals); Jason Marsalis (perc.); Richard Mikel (bass); Brandon Guerra (drums) + Karen Tennison (vocals).
(Review by Lance).
Not, as I'd falsely assumed, recorded in the heart of Rome but in Austin, Texas, by Floridian pianist cum singer Bianchini. 
A fine debut album.
A choice selection of GASbook items that reveal Bianchini to be a pianist of some standing. Although there's some Bill Evans in there, the overall impression is of Peterson in full flight tempered with Bianchini's own input.
A good combination!

My Romance, Time AfterTime, The Way You Look Tonight - the opening three tracks - has Bianchini setting down his piano stall with each one a 'must have'!
Then there's a vocal - our man is no slouch in that department either. Jimmy Van Heusen's I Could Have Told You So combines superb interpretation of the lyric and sympathetic piano accompaniment.
A swinging My Heart Stood Still stopped my heart from being anything but still! Big fat chords and rippling runs didn't do any harm either!.
The big fat chords and the rippling runs also featured on the vocal, Oh Look at me Now. Nice bass solo and some drum/piano fours added to the ambiance.
Softly as in a Morning Sunrise: straight ahead swing with lots of drive from bass, drums, percussion and, natch, piano. More fours.
I Wish I Knew brings Karen Tennison to the vocal mic. Scatting the Mack Gordon/Harry Warren tune into the 21st century, the girl does good only to be matched by Bianchini's solo. Nevertheless, the lady comes back and takes it out on a high with honours even.
A Foggy Day has the pianist in a more reflective mood. A gentle groove that sees a little bit Garner in the mix and some punchy drumming.
I'm Old Fashioned: A Jerome Kern tune, a Johnny Mercer lyric, a fine vocal and some outstanding piano driven by a rhythm section to die for - what more can I say 'cept, Shangri-la!
Peri's Scope (Periscope on CD!) is different from Bill Evans' take yet loses nothing by comparision.
Two For the Road; A reflective piece by Henry Mancini.
A near-perfect CD. Near? Which artistic incompetent decided to display the text as gray on gray? Now, whilst there may be 40 shades of gray, there are only 2 here and so close as to be almost indistinguishable!
Still, the music speaks for itself.
Highly recommended.
Lance.
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