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, April 07, 2017

GIJF Day 1: Laura Jurd’s Dinosaur & Daniel Herskedal Trio @ Sage Gateshead - March 31


Laura Jurd (trumpet & synth); Elliot Galvin (keyboards); Conor Chaplin (electric bass); Corrie Dick (drums). + Northern Sinfonia Strings.
(Review by Steve H/photos courtesy of Ken Drew).
Just in case you weren’t sure who was who, one group of players entered the stage suited and booted in black evening wear, whilst the other group of players entered in jeans, tee shirts and wooly hats. I have seen Dinosaur several times and always thoroughly enjoyed their exciting creativity and enthusiasm. Maybe they were intimidated by playing with such an auspicious lineup up, but on this occasion I thought the music although enjoyable was not as exhilarating as on previous occasions. Corrie Dick is normally a really powerful, forceful drummer but he seemed to be playing well within himself. In a previous review, I had said that a rendition of Happy Sad Song was one of the highlights of the year, but on Friday it was good, but nothing special in comparison with the quartet only version. Personally, I thought the best piece was played by the quartet with no strings attached.
I am sure that, as an experience, it will certainly help the band to grow to an even more elevated position in current British circles.
Daniel Herskedal (tuba, bass trumpet); Eyolf Dale (piano); Helge Andreas Norbakken (percussion) + Northern Sinfonia Strings/Woodwind/Brass
The Daniel Herskedal Trio dovetailed seamlessly with the Northern Sinfonia probably due to them being very experienced with this type of collaboration. The tuba is rarely seen in jazz circles and its uniqueness certainly added to the enjoyment. At times the music evoked Scandi Noire to such an extent that I was worried someone might have been murdered in the auditorium. However, it wasn’t all darkness as some light Arabic style rhythms kept things from getting too tense. The music didn’t appear to be very spontaneous or improvised but was, nevertheless, very atmospheric and most enjoyable.
Steve H.

1 comment :

Pam said...

Just been listening to Dinosaur Together as One . Love It. Pam Y

Blog Archive