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

Sunday, August 21, 2022

Newcastle Jazz Festival (day three) - August 20

(© Pam)
Jo Harrop (vocal); Jamie McCredie (guitar) + Graham Hardy (trumpet).

A third gig in two days for this most delightful of duos with packed houses at all three. After the glowing reviews by Sylvia and Jerry of their previous two performances they have left me with nothing to say other than to concur and say absolutely! The applause after and during each number was positively thunderous - or it may have been the rain stotting down on the roof - probably both!

Oh and, as a bonus, Graham Hardy guested on a couple of numbers - this was Christmas come early! I Fall in Love Too Easily and Fine and Mellow were the pieces enhanced by his presence.

We also heard: Easy to Love; In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning; Fine and Dandy; I Think You'd Better go; What the Heart Wants; Lover; Take it With me; I Want a Little Sugar in my Bowl; What a Little Moonlight Can do; Guilty.

As a footnote, Jo looked stunning and Jamie ultra-cool.

(© Pam)
Graham Hardy Quartet: Graham Hardy (trumpet); Ben Lawrence (piano); John Pope (bass); Rob Walker (drums).

Hardy had appeared earlier leading a top notch quartet in a tribute to Miles Davis' 1960s' recordings such as Seven Steps to Heaven, Someday my Prince Will Come and In a Silent Way. All four were at the top of their game with Ben Lawrence, taking those hearing him for the first time by surprise. He's on an ever upward curve.

(© Pam)
Alter Ego: Dave Hignett (trumpet); Keith Robinson (alto sax); Niall Armstrong (tenor sax/flute); Joe Steels (guitar); Michael Whent (bass guitar); David Johnson (drums).

Hard bop, tightly arranged with cutting edge solos. Unlike so many bands of this nature every one didn't solo on every number and the dreaded fours were placed rightly and properly at the end of the  final number. Hignett hit the high notes, Armstrong shone on both flute and tenor, Robinson led from the front with Joe Steels a welcome addition to the band. Whent depped on bass with the whole shebang driven along by young Johnson.

Jamie Toms (tenor sax) & Dean Stockdale (piano) stepped in to fill an unexpected gap in the proceedings to deliver a duo set that was well-received and sounded as if they'd been playing together since childhood - nice one.

Riviera Experience:
(© Pam)
Pete Tanton (trumpet/flugel/vocal); Lloyd Wright (guitar); John Bradford (drums/congas).

The affable Alabama ex-pat Tanton opened up day three of the festival with a smooth Latinesque set featuring his exquisite horn playing and cool vocals. A rare appearance by Lloyd Wright added to the ambience whilst drummer Bradford elected to play congas making for a truly exotic mix. A grand start to what turned out be an exhausting, but pleasurable shift - Lance

PS: See previous post for review of Ivo Neame Quartet.

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