Bebop Spoken There

Donovan Haffner ('Best Newcomer' 2025 Parliamentary Jazz Awards): ''I got into jazz the first time I picked up a saxophone!" - Jazzwise Dec 25/Jan 26

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

18146 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 24 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 7), 24

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Sat 10: Mark Toomey Quintet @ St Peter’s Church, Stockton-on-Tees. 7:30pm. £12.00. (inc. pie & peas). Tickets from: 07749 255038.

Sun 11: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 12: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 12: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

Tue 13: Milne Glendinning Band @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £11.00. Coquetdale Jazz.
Tue 13: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 14: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 14: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 15: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. Quartet + guest Paul Donnelly (guitar).

Fri 16: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 16: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 16: Darlington Big Band @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 16: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 9:00pm. 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

Friday, April 24, 2020

Streaming Rico 'n' Luca - April 24

If it's Friday it must be Rico Tomasso and it was! Enrico Tomasso was feeling mighty proud of himself having mastered the new-fangled live streaming lark...or so he thought! A great start, split screen, no less - to Rico's right (our left), an image of Italian pianist Luca Filastro with our host occupying the right hand side of the screen as we looked. 

Trumpeter - and occasional flugelhorn player - Rico dressed up a bit, citing St George's Day (yesterday, April 23) as reason to do so. More than giving him a run for his money in the sartorial stakes was young Luca, resplendent in suit, tie and 'kerchief (a photo taken at a concert hall gig somewhere way back when). Three numbers, the first Sweethearts on Parade didn't quite hit the parade ground as Luca's recorded piano part didn't kick-in, at least initially, with Rico exclaiming: Ah! Oh, dear! (expletives were held in check!). A momentary pause as Rico disappeared from view then reappeared, technical issues resolved. Luca played, and, liking what he heard, Rico picked up his trumpet and joined his guest from Italy. 

Muggles - 'just a blues' said  Rico, then, on reflection, our live stream host said many of the great jazz numbers were based upon the blues. And so, Rico and Luca played Louis Armstrong's late twenties' hit. Rico noted Facebook friends Keith Nichols and Michael McQuaid were watching along with the rest of us. Rico looked forward to the time they'd meet up and play a proper gig together.

A plus point of Rico Tomasso's live stream gigs is their brevity - half an hour and he's done. Tonight Rico signed off with the Armstrong-Bechet session circa 1940 when they played Down in Honky Town Town. Tune in tomorrow (Saturday) at seven o'clock for more Tomasso and Louis.     
Russell       

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