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

Monday, June 11, 2018

Crombie Rides Again!

The big news is that the long-awaited documentary, The Geordie Jazzman - Abi Lewis' affectionate portrait, warts and all, of the late Keith Crombie - is to be given a public showing, not only at Newcastle's Tyneside Cinema but also at Home as part of the Manchester Jazz Festival.
A private viewing back in 2016 impressed the majority of those invited and filmmaker Abi Lewis has kept us informed as to
what has happened in the meantime ...

Well,  we’ve toured GEORDIE JAZZ MAN to several international film festivals, which saw us win the 2017 Jury Prize for ‘BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM’ at NorthWestFest in Canada. 
Other festivals we’ve played at include; Sheffield Doc Fest (DP), Aldeburgh Doc Fest, Copenhagen Jazz Film Festival, Long beach Indie, L.A., the Oklahoma Doc Fest and Solo Positivo Music Film Festival, where we won 'Best Director Of Photography’ (well done to the wonderful James Cook!).

We ended our tour last November at the Chicago International Movies and Music Festival, which I think Keith would have approved of given it’s connection to Jazz and the Blues. 
It has been a real honour to attend some of the festivals listed, and especially to witness first hand how Keith’s story translates for an international audience. 

So what’s been happening so far in 2018? 
This year we brought independent film distribution and audience strategy consultant Jonny Tull onto the team. Jonny has many years of experience working in the UK film exhibition sector, including being a former programmer and head of marketing at the Tyneside Cinema in Newcastle. 

But for now - wait for it….. We are planning to RELEASE the film to the public with a bespoke theatrical UK tour, and take Keith on the road. 
The first screening will be at HOME in Manchester on Wednesday, July 11th as part of HOME’s Jazz On Film season – a collaboration with Manchester Jazz Festival. 

The second (FILM & MUSIC event) will be on Friday, July 27th at the Tyneside Cinema which will celebrate Keith’s legacy and the Jazz scene in the region. This is the first public screening of the film in the North East and we’re really excited about making lots of noise about it in the press. The film screens with a Q&A and a late-night after Party in the Tyneside Coffee Rooms.
Abi.
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Well, I for one can't wait to see it again - Lance.

1 comment :

Nick Gould said...

Will we be able to get a dvd or download it?

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