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Bebop Spoken There

Van Morrison: ''Basically, I'm coming from jazz. Not pop, not rock, not what's commercial. That's where I started, and that's still where I am. I feel the same as I did when I was listening to Louis Armstrong, Lead Belly, Jelly Roll Morton''. (The Northern Echo, 12 June 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

18037 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 458 of them this year alone and, so far, 36 this month (June 11).

From This Moment On ...

JUNE 2025

Sun 15: Lewis Watson Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 15: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Pasadena Roof Orchestra @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:00pm.
Sun 15: Under the Wellie @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 15: Hannah Brine Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 16: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club (1:00pm). Free.
Mon 16: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 17: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 18: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 18: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:30pm. Free. Concert performance (open to the public)..
Wed 18: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 19: Gareth John & the SOS Big Band @ The Forum Music Centre, Darlington. 7:00pm. £25.00.

Fri 20: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 20: David Gray's Flextet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 20: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. £21.50. ‘Time After Time’.br/> Fri 20: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm.
Fri 20: King Bees @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. Superb Chicago blues band.

Sat 21: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 21: Red Kites Jazz @ Staithes Café, Dunston. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Sat 21: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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, March 19, 2021

Rico's Pop up Louis with Simon Picton - Mar. 19

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

Sweet and Lovely for starters, Rico trumpet, Simon Picton accompanying our host on banjo. Rico said how much he enjoyed his trip to Aberdeen to record an online festival gig with Ali Affleck and Brian Kellock (available a week on Sunday, ten quid plus booking fee). 

More banjo - what's going on?! - on Blue Drag, Rico taking a vocal. Our man claims Irish heritage...any excuse to sup a Guinness a couple of days after St Patrick's Day (see photo)! 

Georgia on My Mind with Picton double-tracking on guitar, Rico hitting the high notes. The established format of the Popup Louis live stream is for Rico to play a tune, talk a little, engaging with his audience, flitting from one thought to another, this evening remembering Laurie Chescoe, who has just died, and the great Len Skeat. 

Rico sang You Brought a New Kind of Love to Me for no other reason than he liked the tune (the best possible reason!) Rodgers and Hart's It's Easy to Remember (And So Hard to Forgot) prompted Rico to switch to flugelhorn, a really nice tune. Reverting to trumpet, Rico played Edgar Sampson's Blue Lou, Picton rhythmic support and a tasty solo to boot. Rico's vocal on Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You promised to be a highlight and, sure enough, it was, our man using his plunger mute to good effect. To close, All of Me. A good session.  

Next week marks the first anniversary of Rico's weekly Popup Louis sessions. That's some achievement with no more than a handful of absences during the year due to that rare bird, Rico playing a real gig! To celebrate the milestone, it's a Hot Five session with some of the best in the business including Michael McQuaid, reeds, and Andrew Oliver, piano.      
Russell

Set list: Sweet and LovelyBlue DragGeorgia on My MindYou Brought a New Kind of Love to MeIt's Easy to Remember (And So Hard to Forget)Blue LouGee Baby, Ain't I Good to You; All of Me.  

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