Bebop Spoken There

Ron Carter quoting Sonny Rollins: ''What we call jazz - that's keeping the world in equilibrium. I don't care what kind of music you like out here today. It all comes from jazz.'' (DownBeat August, 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

18799 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 663 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 12) 32.

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

From This Moment On

August

Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: John Settle Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. John Settle (vibes); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 14: Bold Big Band @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £8.00 + bf.

Sat 15: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 15: Jake Leg Jug Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £16.26.

Sun 16: Vintage Explosion @ Cliffe Park, Roker, Sunderland SR6 8DB. 5:00-10:30pm. £44.00 (inc. bf).

Mon 17: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 20: Edson Angus Quartet @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 20: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Friday, May 15, 2020

Streaming Rico 'n' Nick - May 15

Rico Tomasso (trumpet, flugelhorn, vocals); Nick Dawson (piano, vocals)

Rico's Popup Louis Is how Enrico Tomasso likes to bill his Friday evening lockdown date with Louis Armstrong. Joining our host this week playing piano and singing one number was Nick Dawson. Casually dressed in summer linen jackets our duo kicked off with Relaxin' at the Touro

A bottle of Greene King's Abbot Ale helped Rico get his lip working with Dawson providing the accompaniment, albeit at a distance. Rico said he would play Cole Porter's Just One of Those Things with Nick handing the part(s) of the Oscar Peterson Trio! Mr Dawson proved to be up to it. And it was Dawson who would impress on the set's penultimate number - Stardust. Not any old version, this one, sung beautifully by our pianist, was dedicated to Ewan Bleach and his 'other half' who were due to be married this weekend. 

Rico mentioned his tip jar (proceeds to be shared by tonight's two performers) and promised to dress up once again for his Saturday night live stream. Rico and Nick went out on a spot-the-tune teaser. A slow intro, an alternative melody to the chords, then...BANG! Nick stole the show with some finger-bustin' piano playing that Oscar Peterson would have been happy to come up with on I Want to be Happy. They'll be back for more, tomorrow (Saturday), seven o'clock sharp.    
Russell

2 comments :

Lance said...

Ah! Spitfire - was that the first of a few?

Russell said...

Well, it was...burp, the few of the...burp, Old Pecuwhatchacallit, hic, London Prrride Hpney, hic, due, oops, Dew, burp!

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