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

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Calvert and the Old Fools @ Dormans Jazz Club, Middlesbrough - November 7


Sam Calvert (drums); Richie Emmerson (tenor sax); Andrew Medowcroft (piano/vocals); Tony Wood (double bass).
(Review by Ron H)

This month’s guest band, featuring a quartet formed from local musicians new to Dormans (apart from Richie), gave the audience a first class night of entertainment.

Up tempo versions of Almost Like Being In Love, A Foggy Day and Louis Jordan's Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby, got things underway. All had excellent sax solos from Richie as well as Andrew showing his skills singing, playing fine piano and displaying great feeling for the music.


The band then settled down to play Have You Met Miss Jones? Tony started When Sunny Gets Blue, with a nice bass intro to a tight arrangement full of excellent dynamics.

Another ballad, My Funny Valentine, included fine sax and piano solos and vocals once more by Andrew.

In complete contrast a rhythmic and swinging Night And Day, featured a drum solo from Sam and a vocal by Andrew to wind up the first set.

The Way You Look Tonight, opened the second set with a terrific sax solo from Richie which was followed by a Tom Waits blues, New Coat of Paint.

Love Me or Leave Me, and the classic Georgia on my Mind, were followed by my favourite of the night, Donald Fagen's Walk Between the Raindrops, nicely sung in the Mel Tormé style by Andrew.

More Tormé style vocal with How Long Has This Been Going On, showed how well the band played together.

A rhythmic version of On The Street Where You Live and then No Moon At All with a fine drum and bass intro by Sam and Tony and more great sax from Richie and vocals by Andrew finished the second set apart from the demanded encore - another fast version of Almost Like Being In Love, this time without solos.

An interesting and varied selection of numbers that was thoroughly enjoyed by the large audience.

With thanks to Dormans Club for their help and support with the weekly jazz night
Ron H.

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