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

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.

Wed 25: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 25: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 25: Geordie Jazz Jam @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. Newcastle University jam session. All welcome.
Wed 25: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, 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.

Fri 27: Joe Steels Group @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT! A Blue Patch album tour.
Fri 27: Alan Barnes w. Mick Shoulder Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. Trio: Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 27: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 27: Radio Hito + Eddie Prévost, Silvain Schmid & Tom Wheatley @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £12.22., £10.10., £8.00.
Fri 27: Giacomo Smith w Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.
Fri 27: Alan Barnes w. Mick Shoulder Trio @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £15.00. Trio: Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).

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, December 31, 2017

The New Year Gongs

Well, the lists are in from most of our contributors and I have come to the conclusion that, based upon appearances in the various listings of top gigs and CDs, the NEW STAR of 2017 is Leo Richardson.
A fantastic album - The Chase - and a knockout gig at Darlo's Opus 4 clinched it.
Paul Edis is one of those musicians who defy classification - pianist, composer, arranger, bandleader - you name it and he does it. Maybe, one day he'll succumb to the lure of the fleshpots of London, New York or Grimsby (not so far to travel) but please hang around for a while longer.
Paul has been astonishing (along with James Birkett and Sage Gateshead) in bringing jazz talent to the fore via Jambone and the other Sage supported bands. There are suggestions that this support is soon to be withdrawn...
The Jazz Café on Newcastle's Pink Lane has the best ever floating jam session in 'The Toon' on the first and third Tuesdays of the month. This is where you find the stars and the also-rans of the future - most of them are in the former category.
The Jazz Coop @ The Globe, The ambitious, trailblazing decision to buy a pub caused a few eyebrows to be raised but they've also had some great gigs. Bruce Adams with Strictly Smokin' Big Band was sensational. Support the venue.
Hoochie Coochie is for those with Soul but Warren doesn't give two f's as to the genre as long as the music is good and pulls the punters. My favourite venue in Newcastle.
The Bridge, JNE's home base and an excellent choice of ale. Steve and Ken keep us up to date on what's happening on the outside.
Individually, Matt MacKellar (natch!), Francis Tulip, Joel Brown, Abbie Finn,  Dylan and Alex Thompson are just some of the players I'll be looking out for.
The Future Looks Good!
Lance
at

3 comments :

Martin Hummel (on F/b) said...

Bebop Spoken Here has just announced its 2017 Gongs of The Year. As Lance Liddle wrote, "Based upon appearances in the various listings of top gigs and CDs, the NEW STAR of 2017 is Leo Richardson."
Wow...the guys did well, and deservedly so.

Monday, January 01, 2018 7:27:00 pm
E J Cohen (on F/b) said...

WOW!!!!!!!! Soooo proud of you, Leo Richardson!!!!

Monday, January 01, 2018 7:28:00 pm
Beverley Aarons (on F/b) said...

Oh my word!!!! Leo, you are amazing! An amazing start to 2018!
Whoop whoop! Xxx

Monday, January 01, 2018 9:22:00 pm

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