Bebop Spoken There

Warne Marsh: "At some point, you have to be prepared to create—to perform. It's vital, man, if we're talking about jazz, the original jazz, the performing art. It fulfils its meaning only when you play it live in front of an audience." DownBeat January 1983.

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

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.

Sat 17: Homer’s Lane + John Garner & John Pope @ St John’s Church, Riding Mill. 2:00-4:00pm. Free. Gabriele Heller’s audio play + Garner & Pope.
Sat 17: Martyn Roper @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 5:00pm. Free. Roper’s ‘One Man Blues Band’.
Sat 17: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 17: Alexia Gardner Trio @ FIKA Art Gallery, Morpeth. 7:00pm (6:30pm doors). Gardner, Alan Law & Jude Murphy.

Sun 18: Louis Louis Louis @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 2:00pm (doors). £15.00. Swing, jump jive, rhythm & blues. Fundraiser for St Oswald’s Hospice.
Sun 18: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free. Trio + Rod Sinclair.
Sun 18: Glenn Miller Orchestra UK @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm.
Sun 18: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 18: Herdman-Strong Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

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, November 06, 2020

Rico's Popup Louis - Nov. 6

Rico Tomasso (trumpet, flugelhorn, vocals); Simon Picton (guitar, banjo) 

Another in Rico Tomasso's Friday evening 'Popup Louis' sessions. Rico couldn't remember how long he's been doing these live streams but he's enjoyed doing them and promised to continue into the future. Tonight's guest, making a  welcome return, playing guitar and banjo, Mr Simon Picton. The duo would play eight tunes during the course of an hour. 

Rico's modus operandi, with his 1933 balanced action horn in hand, is to address his online audience in his usual affable manner, all the while checking an off-screen monitor to cue up his accompanist's part and take a peek at some of the many on-screen comments posted by his legion of regulars. First up: The Music Goes Round and Round. Rico sang - noting Danny Kaye's performance in The Five Pennies - as Simon double-tracked rhythm and solo guitar parts. 

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea (comp. Arlen/Koehler) followed by Sugarfoot Stomp (Picton on banjo) offered a nice contrast in styles. Rico, picking up his flugelhorn, spoke of his liking for Gordon Jenkins' work, so, the duo played When a Woman Loves a Man. Rico thanked Simon for transcribing Oscar Peterson's intro to Ella and Louis' celebrated version of A Fine Romance (Rico's reading of the lyric went slightly awry, confusing potatoes and tomatoes...don't worry, Rico, let's call the whole thing off!).

Four or Five Times has been recorded by many artists, from King Oliver to Bob Wills. Rico said Simon would play banjo on this one and they'd take an off-mic 'band vocal'. They did, it worked. Rico was enjoying himself, he took another slurp from this week's beer, a bottle of Badger's Golden Champion (readily available in shops across Tyneside). 

Rico suggested Wherever There's Love is synonymous with Eddie Condon. Picking up his flugel once more, Rico sure was in mellow mood. And to close, a brisk take on Liza. It had been another good week in the live stream world of Rico Tomasso. More next week when our host will be joined by young pianist Will Barry. BSH has heard Will in concert with Matt Roberts, he's a great player, it'll be good to catch up with him playing a bunch of tunes with Rico. 
Russell

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