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

18104 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 1068 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Dec. 25), 82.

From This Moment On ...

DECEMBER 2025

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).

JANUARY 2026

Thu 01: ???

Fri 02: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 02: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 02: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

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 03, 2020

Streaming Tomasso 'n' Louis - April 3

(Review by Russell)

It's like going to a gig...sort of. Another of Enrico Tomasso's Facebook sessions - two last weekend and this evening the first of two this weekend - focused once again on the Leeds College of Music alumnus' hero - Louis Armstrong. Against a backdrop of CDs piled high and metal filing cabinets containing who knows what, Rico appeared relaxed and so he should with a beer within easy reach!


It should be stated  that you're correspondent was multi-tasking - watching Rico, cocking an ear to Radio 4's Front Row and, like Rico, drinking a beer (the Hoochie Coochie jazz critic's favourite, a bottle of London Pride). Was that You're Driving Me Crazy for starters? Whatever, this was Classic Jazz Party star Rico Tomasso in fine form. Mobile Blues (at this point Miles' Bitches Brew was in the other ear) with our Facebook host at pains to thank Denny Illet for providing the backing tapes. If there is ever an excuse/reason to make use of tapes then Lockdown Britain is it.

Drop Me Off in Harlem (what a tune!) with raconteur Rico telling the story of how, as a ten year old boy, he attended the New Orleans Jazz Festival and listened as his father persuaded George Wein to give young Rico a three minute spot on stage! Mr Wein gave the go ahead and, sure enough, playing  Sleepy Time Down South a young boy's dream came true - all the more poignant that Louis Armstrong had died a short time before Rico visited the States. 

It isn't your local jazz club, you're not sitting front row with friends a mere slide trombone from the action but until the current restrictions are lifted this ain't a bad way to spend a Friday night. More tomorrow at seven o'clock.    
Russell    

1 comment :

Lance said...

Interesting as always however, like on the earlier Paul Edis stream it was difficult to hear the voice. At first I thought it was me but even some of his family members pointed it out. It did seem to improve towards the end.
The music on both streams came across fine.

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