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

Wednesday, June 14, 2017

A Carolina Moon over the Crescent Club - June 14

 Brian Bennett (banjo & vocals), Bob Wade (trumpet), Jim McBriarty (clarinet, tenor saxophone & vocals), Laurence McBriarty (trombone), Bill Colledge (double bass) & Fred Thompson (drums & vocals) + Miles Watson (trumpet & vocals)
(Review by Russell).
A sultry day down at the coast. If it’s a Wednesday it’s the Vieux Carré Jazzmen at the Crescent Club. There’ll Be Some Changes Made sang Fred Thompson. Not much change in the tried and tested formula – give the punters what they want. Savoy Blues, Avalon (Jim McBriarty blowing a tenor sax and singing), and Christopher Columbus featuring Laurence McBriarty, trombone, and the band’s recent recruit, the excellent Bob Wade, trumpet, exchanging ideas for fun. Trombone veteran Laurence seems to have a renewed spring in his step working alongside Wade. Brother Jim, a multi-reeds maestro if ever there was one, shared vocal duties with drummer Thompson, contented bandleader Bennett knocked out the chords and Bill Colledge perched on a high stool kept time, Rolex time.
Bandleader Bennett opened the second set with a request – My Monday Date – a tune the band hadn’t played in years. Fred Thompson sang it, Bob Wade winged it (he didn’t know the number), Bennett joined Colledge to read the dots, and the McBriartys played it (they can play anything). A success! Baby Won’t You Please Come Home? pleaded Jim McBriarty, Thompson went running over to the Darktown Strutters Ball returning in time to hear Mr Miles Watson crooning A Carolina Moon. The raffle prizes went elsewhere and in no time Brian Bennett declared he was Goin’ Home.
The Vieux Carré Jazzmen can be heard again at lunchtime tomorrow (Thursday) at the Holystone pub, North Tyneside. One o’clock, free admission. 
Russell. 

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