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

Saturday, October 08, 2022

Newcastle Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music: Zoë Gilby Trio w. Noel Dennis + John Garner, John Pope + Dilutey Juice @ the Globe - Oct. 2

A brief 5 minutes or so walk from the Lit & Phil to the Globe finds more jazz festival activity. This time a more ‘mainstream’ selection well suited for a Sunday afternoon and the penultimate session of the festival.

Zoë Gilby Trio: Zoe Gilby (vocals); Mark Williams (guitar); Andy Champion (bass); Noel Dennis (trumpet,  flugelhorn).

First off is the Zoë Gilby Trio with Noel Dennis. No need to mention the perfect delivery from the two main names in the band, but worth mentioning Mark Williams and Andy Champion as providing solid backing, and solid solos when called upon - just like the two main names of the band did!   A nice varied set, both warmly and enthusiastically received.

John Garner (violin); John Pope (bass).

Next up was the duo of John Garner and John Pope with their no holds barred music-making, bringing an unusual line-up of violin and double bass and demonstrating the adaptability and flexibility of the otherwise familiar music they base some of their work on. Their own compositions fit seamlessly into the mix.    

John Garner is one of the most exciting and unusual voices to emerge in recent years, combining immaculate technique with a fearless musicality and free-wheeling improvisational aesthetic. John Pope is a composer, improviser and a (much in demand) bass player. His work explores the boundaries of jazz, free improvisation, rock and experimental music.  Such a combination of skill and experience within the duo gives rise to an exciting interplay with a few frolics and fireworks thrown in for good measure.

Both have played internationally, but they seem at home with a local audience around the Globe who may not have expected to like the music of spontaneous improvisation, or indeed the sonority of a violin paired with a double bass. But crafting some recognisable tunes (including ‘Happy Birthday You Two’)* intertwined with trading phrases and full blown improvisation led to many smiling faces around the audience. A great set, well received.

Dilutey Juice:  Thomas Dixon (sax); Billy Bradshaw (trumpet); Lewis Wilkinson (sousaphone); Ben Fitzgerald (Drums).

Finally, something incredibly energetic - Dilutey Juice!!! They take inspiration from a plethora of influences, from the fast hypnotic rhythms of Afro-beat to the intense euphoria of 90s' dance music - they’re a good-time-brass-party-band!!!  

Juice was created in the summer of 2020 and their reason d’être is to bring positive vibes and dance music to the public.  And so it was – in spades!!  An enthusiastic and high-energy performance was greeted with enthusiastic and energetic applause (and much foot-tapping!).

All bands were bang on schedule like the rest of the Festival (congrats to them and to Wes!).  What an afternoon of lively and entertaining music, leaving with a short respite until the grand Festival finale back at the Lit & Phil. Ken Drew

* Ken Drew & Paul Bream share the same birthday - Editor

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