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, February 17, 2020

Danny Jonokuchi with Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ Flat Caps Coffee, Carliol Square, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

(Press release)

Friday 13th March | 8pm

Famed New York and LA band leader, trumpet player, vocalist and arranger, DANNY JONOKUCHI, visits the North East for a one-off gig with STRICTLY SMOKIN’ BIG BAND. We’ve featured Danny’s arrangements at SSBB for a few years now, and are very excited to hook up for this gig.

Danny Jonokuchi has been called a world class performer and the “sound of this era” (Nextbop).

This music swings from start to finish – Danny’s arrangements are fresh but hold true to the New York big band tradition – think Birdland, Village Vanguard and Blue Note.

We’ll be featuring Danny on trumpet and vocals, as well as our own Alice Grace and members of Strictly Smokin’.

Few artists are as diversely involved in their craft. You can hear his original compositions and arrangements in renowned jazz clubs, listen to albums he has arranged and produced, and see him perform on Broadway in the Tony-nominated musical Be More Chill.

Writing has always been Danny’s passion and his arrangements have been performed by an incredible cast of acclaimed artists including Lady Gaga, Grammy-nominated vocalist Nicole Zuraitis, Post Modern Jukebox singer Hannah Gill, The Duke Ellington Legacy, The Terell Stafford Quintet, Brian Newman, Charles Turner & Uptown Swing, Ulysses Owens Jr.’s New Century Big Band, The Birdland Big Band, The South Philly Big Band, Peter Bernstein, The Gordon Webster Band, and The Dick Oatts Sextet.

This is Danny’s only UK concert date.

TICKET OFFER: £8 tickets for those with a Mike Lovatt ticket – full details on our web site.
Tickets strictly limited due to capacity.

“The sound of this era” – NextBop.
“Big band sounds with some of the best musicians” – Broadway World.
“What a night” – Tony Bennett.
“A classic swing sound you wouldn’t think possible” – Syncopated Times.

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