Bebop Spoken There

Christian McBride: ''I believe we are living in a historically embarrassing moment in American history.'' - Downbeat December 2025

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

18083 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 1047 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Dec. 14), 61.

From This Moment On ...

DECEMBER 2025

Sun 21: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. ‘Xmas Swingalong’. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 21: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00-5:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ o2 City Hall, Newcastle. 6:00pm. £35.80., £33.25., £31.00.
Sun 21: The Globe Xmas Party @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Live music.
Sun 21: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:30pm. Free.

Mon 22: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 23: Paul Skerritt @ Chakh Dhoom, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Indian restaurant. Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Wed 24: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 24: Alexia Gardner @ The Townhouse, Bridge St., Morpeth. 1:30-4:30pm. ‘The A Capella Sessions’. Gardner, Paula Gardner, Alexia Hope Gardner Diamany.
Wed 24: Paul Skerritt @ Mambo Wine & Dine, South Shields. 1:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Thu 25: Alexia Gardner @ The Townhouse, Bridge St., Morpeth. 1:30-4:00pm. ‘All About the Bass Sessions’. Alexia Gardner, Paula Gardner, Jude Murphy.

Fri 26: ???

Sat 27: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Sat 27: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.

Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ 3 Stories, High St. West, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: The Society Quartet @ Hilton Garden Inn, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Jason Holcomb & co.

Mon 29: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 30: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £8.00., £7.00. adv.

Wed 31: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 31: Lil Miss Mary & the Mr Rights Trio @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. ‘Early NYE Bash’. Rockabilly, rhythm & blues.
Wed 31: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. ‘Midnight in Manhattan’ NYE party. £49.46 (inc. bf) & £29.38 (inc. bf).

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

Tuesday, April 14, 2020

CD Review: Damian Cook Quintet - You What?

Damian Cook (alto sax); Dave Boraston (trumpet/flugel); Graeme Taylor (piano); Joe Limburn (bass); Ted Carrasco (drums)
(Review by Lance).

This is a rocking band - and I mean rocking without the roll - what in the thirties we might have described as a jump band and what, in later years, under the direction of Bruce Turner, was indeed described in the aforementioned terms. Put simply, it rocks, it swings, it jumps. It's mainstream verging on bebop and it not only gets your feet tapping but your heart beat finds a good, albeit worrying, groove too!

Eight original tracks composed and arranged by Damian Cook who blows terrific alto. To quote Ira Gitler from an earlier review, "If Junior Cook were to legally pluralize his last name, it would read like the baldest statement of fact". Substitute Damian for Junior and it's still relevant.

There's also some tasty trumpet/flugel from Dave Boraston who is a bit of a discovery for me although, as we have 69 mutual friends on Facebook including Jo Harrop, Enrico, Alan Barnes, Simon Spillett, Chris Hibbard, Chris Hodgkins and 63 others, I feel I should be sending him Christmas cards. Check him out next time you're down south.

No need to ride the rods down to Kings Cross to catch Damian he's in pantomine at the Theatre Royal this year - oh yes he is - and, just as he has done in previous years, will be having a blow at The Globe and maybe sitting in at a jam or two. He's the real deal.

What am I saying? The whole band is very much the real deal. The rhythm section could be straight out of Harlem, via Chicago and Kansas City.

The CD just arrived this morning but no way was I going to allow it to disinfect in the hallway for even an hour. It only took one track before it was shuffled to the front of the queue.

Terrific!
Lance.

Rope, Garden, Golf...; Dry Roasted; Wakened Jazz Yelp; Down and Up; Julian and Nat; Church It Guys!; Down; Dimished Responsibility.

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