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

Saturday, June 20, 2020

Dress Up Saturday with Rico & Spats - June 20

Rico Tomasso (trumpet, vocals); Tom 'Spats' Langham (guitar, banjo, vocals)

There you are in your jogging bottoms. Look at the state of your t-shirt. Is that an egg stain? Honestly! Don't you know this is Dress Up Saturday? Take a look at Rico Tomasso and Tom Langham (pictured)...they made the effort, what's your excuse? 

Louis Armstrong is the constant in Rico Tomasso's twice weekly live stream, hence Rico's Popup Louis. Kicking off with Spats Langham on guitar, our duo played I Cried for You (an early twenties' number) with Rico taking a first vocal of the evening. Spats likes to sing a number and, from the early thirties, a rare number said Rico (Russ Columbo recorded it), Blue Evening with Rico's muted accompaniment. 

Tonight's ale said Rico (is the man angling for a sponsorship deal with a brewery?)...Timothy Taylor's Landlord. Time for a classic Armstrong number - Save it Pretty MamaFour bars banjo, I think Rico thought out loud. Sure enough, Spats came in, remotely, of course, with Rico toting his 1933 balance action horn and singing a la Louis.

Taking a look at the screen in front of him, Rico scanned the many comments, picking out Mike Lovatt's contribution: Lovely to see you there, Mike said Rico as he recalled working with his fellow trumpeter on many a gig. This evening's final number was one Tomasso's father liked to play. Glancing at his notes Rico said to himself: How does this one start? Eight bars guitar, I think. And so it did with Spats setting the pace, challenging Rico to keep up, which, of course, he did. 

Next week - Friday and Saturday at seven -  Martin Wheatley returns and the plan is for the duo to play a Jabbo Smith set.   
Russell    

1 comment :

Patti said...

Rico's final number on the set - the one that his late father used to play regularly - was Fine and Dandy, from 1930. And the chaps certainly looked fine and dandy in their dress up outfits! Rico with a smart tux suit, and Tom resplendent in a tailcoat and a Kufi cap. Next week Rico's sessions will be with guitar and stringed instrument ace Martin Wheatley.

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