Bebop Spoken There

Dominick "Domo" Branch: ''Most people say drummers can't write, they're just time-keepers only beating on things. But I have a very musical brain.'' (DownBeat February, 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

18288 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 142 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Feb. 14), 42

From This Moment On ...

February

Fri 20: Alex Clarke w. Dean Stockdale Trio @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT! Clarke w. Dean Stockdale, Mick Shoulder, Abbie Finn.
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: Squabble @ Warkworth Memorial Hall. 7:00pm. Steve Chambers (organ); Jude Murphy (double bass, vocals); Sid White (drums).
Fri 20: Jive Aces @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:00pm (6:30pm doors).
Fri 20: Alex Clarke w. Dean Stockdale Trio @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Clarke w. Dean Stockdale, Mick Shoulder, Abbie Finn.

Sat 21: ???

Sun 22: Musicians Unlimited: Big Band Blast @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00-3:00pm . Free.
Sun 22: Joe Steels Group @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. A Blue Patch album tour.
Sun 22: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: Harben Kay Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 23: Joe Steels Group @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. A Blue Patch album tour.
Mon 23: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 24: Finn-Keeble Group @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £11.00.
Tue 24: Liam Oliver & Shayo Oshodi @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 25: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 25: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 25: Geordie Jazz Jam @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. Newcastle University jam session. All welcome.
Wed 25: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 26: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £6.50.
Thu 26: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00 adv.
Thu 26: Mick Cantwell Band @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Blues.

Fri 27: Joe Steels Group @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT! A Blue Patch album tour.
Fri 27: Alan Barnes w. Mick Shoulder Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. Trio: Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 27: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 27: Radio Hito + Eddie Prévost, Silvain Schmid & Tom Wheatley @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £12.22., £10.10., £8.00.
Fri 27: Giacomo Smith w Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.
Fri 27: Alan Barnes w. Mick Shoulder Trio @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £15.00. Trio: Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).

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, December 24, 2021

Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms - Xmas Eve

Maureen Hall (vocals); Gavin Lee (clarinet); Don Fairley (trombone); Brian Chester (keyboards); Tom Darbyshire (double bass, vocals); George Davidson (drums, vocals) + John Broddle (vocals)

Christmas Eve, the Monkseaton Arms, Rendezvous Jazz, full house. Maureen Hall's long-established outfit continues to pull in the punters, here in Monkseaton, over at the Red Lion in Earsdon, and on occasional forays further afield, often taking a bus load of supporters for a weekend away.* This afternoon Maureen had the A-team out. To her left, Gavin Lee, clarinet, to her right, trombonist Don Fairley. The rhythm section - pianist Brian Chester, string bassist Tom Darbyshire, drummer George Davidson - reported for duty, ready and willing to don Santa/silly hats. 

Much of the set list featured requests, some of the numbers toasting absent friends, some remembering folk who, sadly, are no longer with us. Royal Garden Blues was as good a way as any to start this Christmas Eve session. Lee and Fairley shared the bulk of the solo spots, Chester too. The band singers numbered three, Maureen, of course (Light from the Lighthouse a highlight, Maureen has a penchant for a spiritual), George Davidson (It's a Long Way from Tipperary an oddity, but hey, everyone sang along) and, rather effectively, Tom Darbyshire taking a chorus on Darktown Strutters' Ball. 

John Broddle called in for a pint, singing just the one number - After You've Gone. Rendezvous Jazz at the Monkseaton Arms is a no nonsense, foot-tapping Dixieland session. Give it a try, it's free admission, do buy a raffle ticket or three, top tip...arrive early for a good seat!        

* Rendezvous Jazz will be up in Northumberland for a two night stay at the Riverdale Hall Hotel in Bellingham, Friday 18 to Sunday 20 March next year. For full details call Riverdale Hall on 01434 220254. And before then, Maureen and the boys will be back at the Monkseaton Arms next Friday (New Year's Eve) at one o'clock. Russell    

Set list: Royal Garden Blues; Dr Jazz; I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus; Bourbon Street Parade; Careless Love; I Wan'na be Like You; Clarinet Marmalade; Christmas Island; After You've Gone; Darktown Strutters' Ball; Are You Lonesome Tonight?; Hiawatha; It's a Long Way to Tipperary; Light from the Lighthouse; Canal Street Blues; Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives to Me.  
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