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

Monday, May 13, 2019

RIP Doris Day

Saddest of news - just heard that Doris Day died earlier today aged 97. 

Film star and singer, she touched on the jazz scene with Les Brown and his band of Renown in the 1940s and, years later, in 1961, recorded an excellent duo album with Andre Previn. 

My first schoolboy crush she remained in my heart forever. Favourite film? Love me or Leave me. Favourite record? All of them but My One and Only Love from the Previn album is exceptional.
Sadly missed.
Love always
Lance.
Obituary.

6 comments :

Ron Hampton (on F/b) said...

Remember her for Secret Love.

Lance said...

Remember her for Ten Cents a Dance. No doubt the media will focus on the lightweight movies with Rock Hudson but it was her early films from It's Magic (Romance on the High Seas) up to Love Me Or Leave Me/Calamity Jane that really stamped her as a class act. Young at Heart with Sinatra, Lullaby of Broadway w. Gene Nelson who could out-hoof most hoofers of the time.
Storm Warning which was the first time Hollywood had brought the attention of picturegoers to the existence of the KKK.
In Lullaby of Broadway, she sang You're Getting to be a Habit With Me - she most certainly did

Patti said...

I was reminded tonight about her long and close friendship with Rock Hudson - and Doris came out in full support of Rock when he opened up to the media about his Aids. As for the recordings, I have a bit of a thing for 'Secret Love' ....... then going back a few years, I can remember seeing Calamity Jane with my parents at the Luxor Cinema in Lancing - and Doris in her buckskins belting out 'The Deadwood Stage'.

Alan Smith said...

So sad.
I also agree that 'Love Me Or Leave Me' was her best film,
and I was surprised that her Jazz singing was so good.
RIP Doris.

Andy Hud said...

The Segue "I've just blew in from the Windy City" following the Segue of "Deadwood Stage" and "Introducing Henry Miller" is one of the ultimate one-take wonders of early filming. They sang acted and danced the whole sequence as one. Extreme Respect!

Liz said...

well, as my fave ballad is "My one & only love" this has to be my choice, so I will second that Lance...DD was my idol as a teenager, we all wanted to look like Doris Day RIP.

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