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

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, November 11, 2022

TJ Johnson & guests @ Jamboree, London - Nov. 9

TJ Johnson (piano, vocals); James Kitchman (guitar); Alex Clarke (tenor sax) 

Walk two minutes from King's Cross Railway Station and you might stumble upon Jamboree. On the other hand, you're more likely to walk straight past a nondescript back lane not ever knowing that there is a thriving music venue no more than fifty metres off the main drag. Three o'clock Wednesdays, TJ Johnson holds court, invariably a musician friend will drop by second set. This week there was a larger turn out than usual. TJ said: I know why you're all here, you're going to Adrian Cox's gig tonight, aren't you? Adding: I'm Adrian's warm up act. 

Warm up act or not, TJ Johnson is an attraction in his own right*. Piano and vocals, as casual as you like, jazz, blues, country, gospel, an all round entertainer is TJ. Opening with The Glory of Love, TJ and Adrian's Army went for a gentle stroll along the highways and byways of the recorded history of popular music. Every Day I Have the Blues, Old Fashioned Love, Beale Street Blues, it wasn't long before a swing dance couple took to the floor. 

Ramblin' Man, One of These Days, this was TJ in fine form, joined by Northumbrian James Kitchman. Yes, local hero (Hexhamshire) guitarist Kitchman has long since been a fixture on the London scene and here he was fitting in nicely with his old mate TJ. Come Rain or Come Shine featured Kitchman, an excellent solo! Pete Johnson's Jump for Joy and Roll 'em Pete (Big Joe Turner often sang those two numbers) on a Wednesday afternoon in London, you couldn't make it up! Third set (it's a 3:00 'til 6:00pm gig), TJ was joined by another friend (lockdown live stream partner), Alex Clarke playing tenor sax. Again, as casual as you like, no fuss, joining the boys on a few tunes including a seasonal Autumn Leaves and the perennial 'Deed I Do. It was time to go, Adrian Cox's 100 Club gig was fast approaching.

* TJ Johnson will be 'up north' next week to play a couple of gigs. The first of them at Newcastle's Lit & Phil (1:00pm, Friday 18 Nov.) is a sellout. To enquire about returns call 0191 232 0192. The following day (Sat 19, 12:30pm) TJ will be at St Augustine's Parish Centre to play a Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club engagement. Russell            
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