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

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.

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.

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

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Sept. Programme (and change of day) @ Spice of Life


On those periodic occasions when I travel down to London for a few days my first priority is to ensure that my schedule allows me to be free to visit the Spice of Life on a Wednesday lunchtime where you can hear some of the best lunchtime jazz in the UK and, on occasion, maybe even the world!

Apart from the jazz, the beer's acceptable, the food looks tempting and it's always good to chat with David Burr who organises the gigs.

However, as of September 2 the sessions move from Wednesdays to Mondays but, as can be seen from the programme below, nothing else changes ...

September.
2              Andrew Oliver’s Vitality Five
Enrico Tomasso (trumpet); David Horniblow (bass sax, clarinet); Andrew Oliver (piano); Martin Wheatley (banjo); Nick Ball (drums).

9               Jack Honeyborne All-Stars
Steve Waterman (trumpet); Vasilis Xenopoulos (tenor sax); Jack Honeyborne (piano); Julian Bury (bass); Denis Smith (drums).

16          Ned Bennett’s Harlem Meer Cats
Ben Cummings (trumpet); Jeff Williams (trombone); Ned Bennett (alto sax, clarinet); Colin Good (piano); Sandy Burnett (bass); Chris Nickolls (drums).

23            Jack Honeyborne All-Stars
Mike Henry (trumpet); John Wurr (alto sax, clarinet); Jack Honeyborne (piano); Julian Bury (bass); Denis Smith (drums).

30            Arifa Hafiz’s Arifa’s Reefers
Mike Soper (trumpet); Ewan Bleach & Will Scott (reeds); Jean-Marie Fagon (guitar); Colin Good (piano); Louis Thomas (bass), Arifa Hafiz (vocals)

Mon. 7 Oct.   David Horniblow’s King Oliver Tribute

Normally £7-£8      Food + Real Ales     12:30pm
Spice of Life, 6 Moor St., Cambridge Circus, London W1D 5NA. Telephone enquiries: 0208 647 2114.
Lance
Photo taken on a visit last yearSara Dowling (vocals); Paul Higgs (trumpet); Al Nicholls (tenor); Martin Guy (drums); (not shown)Tim Huskisson (piano); Pete Morgan (bass).

1 comment :

M.Jack said...

This is lovely. keep it up.This is so lovely.

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