Bebop Spoken There

Jools Holland (on his 2026 spring/summer tour): ''With the mighty [R&B] Orchestra, our wonderful boogie woogie singers, and the brilliant Joe Webb opening the shows [including Darlington Hippodrome, June 19], we're in for some very special evenings of music.'' The Northern Echo February 5, 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

18263 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 117 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Feb. 6), 17

From This Moment On ...

February

Sat 07: The Big Easy @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club.
Sat 07: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30-3:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 07: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. St Thomas & Bésame Mucho. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 07: Side Cafe Oᴙkestar @ Café Under the Spire, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Table reservations: 0191 477 3970.
Sat 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 08: Swing Tyne @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12 noon (doors). Donations. Swing dance taster class (12:30pm) + Hot Club de Heaton (live performance). Non dancers welcome.
Sun 08: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: Gerry Richardson’s Big Idea @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 09: Mark Williams Trio @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 09: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 10: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 11: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington.. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 11: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 12: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 13: Noel Dennis Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm . £9.00. Dennis (trumpet, flugelhorn); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 13: Joe Steels @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 13: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm.
Fri 13: Tom Remon & John Moriarty @ The Ship Isis, Silksworth Row, Sunderland SR1 3QJ. 7:00pm. £10.00 + £1.00 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

Friday, March 26, 2021

Rico's Popup Louis Anniversary Special - Mar. 26

(Screenshot by Russell)
Rico Tomasso (trumpet, cornet, flugelhorn, trombone); Michael McQuaid (reeds); Martin Wheatley (guitar, banjo); Andrew Oliver (piano); Nick Ball (drums); Analucia Tomasso (vocals) 

Hot Fours, Fives and Sixes, a Blue Seven, Louis, Red Allen, Bix and Bunny, yes, an anniversary special. It's one year since Rico Tomasso first ventured into the weird and wonderful world of the live stream. And, most weeks during lockdown(s) Rico has been there, Fridays at seven o'clock. 

(Screenshot by Russell)
Assisting Rico this week, Bunny Berigan, Henry 'Red' Allen, Louis Armstrong and Bix Beiderbecke (see black & white photo, top left, clockwise). Hot Fives to begin with My Heart. In truth, the four legends were present in spirit only, those actually providing the backing to Rico were modern day greats (see colour photo, from the left, clockwise) Messrs Andrew Oliver (all the way from Portland, Oregon!), Michael McQuaid, Nick Ball, Rico, a mystery trombonist and Martin Wheatley.  

Red Allen, Patrol Wagon Blues, Rico singing, Fireworks with Nick Ball's bock-a-da-bock' intro, stomping piano by Oliver and excellent ensemble work from the 'Five'. Bix Beiderbecke time, time for Rico to pick up his cornet to play Blue River. From Bix to Bunny Berigan's version of Davenport Blues, Rico back on trumpet, the 'boys' of the orchestra recreating a a swing band feel, McQuaid's swinging clarinet solo. McQuaid doubled on tenor to fill out the sound on I Can't Get Started. To close, a marvellous story about Rico's parents meeting Lil Hardin in Paris! Rico's daughter Analucia Tomasso joined Rico and co to sing Harlem on Saturday Night. It had been quite a celebratory evening.           
Russell

Set list: My HeartYou're NextPatrol Wagon BluesFireworksBlue RiverDavenport BluesI Can't Get StartedHarlem on Saturday Night.       

2 comments :

Mike Farmer said...

About three years ago I was in Melbourne Austrailia and my son and I went one Sunday afternoon to the Emerald Bistro to have a meal and hear some jazz. There was a very good tenor player who was called Michael MacQuaid playing with the house quartet. I had a brief chat with him during the interval and he told me he sometimes plays in the UK.

Russell said...

Mike, the very good tenor player Michael McQuaid is a multi-reeds virtuoso and he's been resident in London for some time. Indeed he is co-director of Mike Durham's International Classic Jazz Party. If you're interested, this year's event, near Whitley Bay, is scheduled to take place Nov 5-7. The festival website is: www.whitleybayjazzfest.com.

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