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, April 15, 2022

Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club - April 15

Olive Rudd (vocals); Jim McBriarty (alto sax, clarinet, vocals); Alan Marshall (tenor, soprano sax); Neville Hartley (trombone, vocals); Carl Peacock (keys); Alan Rudd (bass); Tommy Graham (drums).

How can I sit back and write impartially about this afternoon's seafront session at the CCC?

Firstly, I drew 3 prize winning numbers in the raffle although I did put the Easter Eggs back up for grabs and, secondly, Olive sang two of my favourite songs - How'd You Like to Love me? and I Wished on the Moon which was, in truth, better than winning the vintage (ish) plonk.

Classic Swing have a vast repertoire that is rarely repeated and, in Olive, they have a singer who can hold her own with anyone working her side of the street.

Not that Olive is the only one in the band who can hold a tune. Jim McBriarty, in between blowing clarinet or alto sax, invariably pops up to do a little crooning. This afternoon, amongst others, he delighted us with an obscure Glenn Miller number made famous by Helen O'Connell with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra - I'm Stepping Out With a Memory Tonight

And the vocals didn't stop there. When not blowing slide trombone à la Jack T, Neville Hartley sang like the old trombone master on yet another piece de obscurity - Barefoot Boy - possibly inspired by hearing it on an old Ken Colyer record. Neville and Olive also duetted on Trombone Cholly.

Alan Marshall didn't sing (maybe he's their secret weapon yet to be unleashed) but he blew some modern sounding tenor and soprano whilst Tommy Graham punctuated the percussion when the percussion needed punctuating and Alan Rudd avoided being despatched to the doghouse by ensuring that rhythm and harmony were on the money behind Mrs Rudd's vocals.

Carl Peacock, depping for Jeremy McMurray, slotted in nicely to make this a most enjoyable day at the seaside. Lance

Classic Swing; Back in Your Own Backyard (Olive); You Can Depend on me (Olive); Strike up the Band (Jim); Barefoot Boy (Neville); Blue Lou; How'd You Like to Love me? (Olive); This Can't be Love; You Were Meant For me (Olive); Trombone Cholly (Olive/Neville); I'm Stepping Out With a Memory Tonight (Jim); Tangerine; I Wished on the Moon (Olive); When You're Smiling (Olive).

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