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

Sunday, January 12, 2020

Debra Milne-Steve Glendinning Trio @ The Globe Jazz Bar - Jan. 11

Debra Milne (vocal); Steve Glendinning (guitar); Mike Clark (bass guitar).
(Review by Lance).

This was a Tale of Two Trios. Two vocalists, two guitarists, two venues within walking distance of each other and, had our local Metro system being operating as efficiently as its Parisian equivalent, I may have managed a set at both - in a perfect world...

Nevertheless, my decision to opt for the Jazz Coop HQ wasn't a one I regretted. Debra Milne has to be given her due, not just for her individual vocal style but also for her songs and lyrics some of which are worthy of GASbook recognition (am I right in thinking that by some genealogical thing Debs is now an American?) Certainly, Don't Come Around Here Anymore is pure AABA - and I don't mean ABBA!


It's a tight compact unit. Steve Glendinning provides the spark as well as some of the writing.

I love her Most People, a song she said she composed after Trump was elected as President. Although, in fairness, it has to be said that it could probably be applied to everyone who has ever stood for office be it your local parish counsellor or George Washington who, famously, once said, "I cannot tell a lie" - which was his first one.

Back to the music. Apart from the originals, Debra sang the Jon Hendricks' version of Corcovado and Sting's Consider Me Gone which featured Mike Clark's only solo of the set. If you're a bass guitarist and you're going to do it - do it on a number by Gordon Sumner.

Interval time and I, regretfully, had to leave but it was good to see  so many in the upper room. Debra informed me that they had some new material for the second set which, I'm afraid, will be for another day (collage left courtesy of Ken Drew - individual photos from Ken here.)

Next Sunday is a big one at the venue! JazzMain, the outstanding hard bop quartet from Edinburgh led by tenor saxist Nick Gould, are returning to The Globe - all bets are off, this is the only game in town!
Lance.

No comments :

Blog Archive