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

18263 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 117 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Feb. 6), 17

From This Moment On ...

February

Thu 12: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00. CANCELLED!

Fri 13: Noel Dennis Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm . £9.00. Dennis (trumpet, flugelhorn); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 13: Joe Steels @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 13: Tom Remon & John Moriarty @ The Ship Isis, Silksworth Row, Sunderland SR1 3QJ. 7:00pm. £10.00 + £1.00 bf.
Fri 13: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm.

Sat 14: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Sat 14: Big Joe Louis + Michael Littlefield @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £16.00. Jumpin’ Hot Club.
Sat 14: Brass Fiesta @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 10:30pm. Free.

Sun 15: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Trio + Jason Holcomb. Free.
Sun 15: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Wild Women of Wylam @ Ye Olde Cross, Ryton. 7:30pm. Free.
Sun 15: Yorkshire Gypsy Swing Collective @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 16: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 16: Jasper Lo + Daniel Chandler Trio @ Little Buildings, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £7.00. + bf.
Mon 16: Joe Steels Group @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00. A Blue Patch album tour.

Tue 17: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Victoria & Albert Inn, Seaton Delaval. 12:30pm. £9.50. Tickets: 0191 237 3697. ‘Jazz ‘n’ Pancakes’.
Tue 17: John Pope & John Garner @ The Great Hall, Sutherland Building, Northumbria University. 1:15pm. Free. Double bass & violin.
Tue 17: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Stu Collingwood (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); John Hirst (drums).

Wed 18: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 18: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 18: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

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

Tuesday, November 22, 2022

Zoë Gilby Trio @ Blaydon Jazz Club - Nov. 21

(© Roly Veitch)
Zoë Gilby (vocals); Mark Williams (guitar); Andy Champion (double bass)

An APPJAG winner flanked by two of Britain's finest musicians can mean only one thing...an ace gig! The All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group's 'Best Vocalist' award for 2019 went to Tynesider Zoë Gilby. To those on the ground who knew about Zoë's capabilities, her triumph came as little surprise. Jazz club and festival appearances have helped maintain Zoë's high profile but our Cullercoats lass hasn't forgotten her roots. As graceful and gracious as always, our APPJAG winner was only too pleased to make a return visit to Blaydon Jazz Club.

On a cold, dark Monday evening in November, with the counter attraction of a World Cup football match on tv, Blaydon's faithful turned out - good on 'em! Zoë's set list embraced standards, popular songs and a raft of original compositions. The Black Bull's audience enjoyed the up-close proximity to the on-stage musicians - Zoë, guitarist Mark Williams and bassist Andy Champion. From No More Blues through to A Song for You, this was one impeccable performance. Mindful of name-checking composers, Zoë sang numbers from her Aurora project (writing lyrics to some of Tom Harrell's compositions, including Shadowed in Solitude, a reworking of Moon Alley), Joni Mitchell (The Dry Cleaner from Des Moines), Nick Cave's Red Right Hand (Zoë in menacing form!) to yet another wonderful, evocative rendition of The Midnight Bell. 

And what of Messrs Williams and Champion? Quite simply, there's none finer. Guitarist Williams makes it look so easy, a consummate musician. Andy Champion, the man is well-named. Simply imperious. Thanks to Zoë, Mark and Andy for a night of top class jazz right here in Blaydon.             
      
Set list: No More Blues; In It Together; Shadowed in Solitude; Leap to the Limelight; A Momentary Place of Peace; The Dry Cleaner from Des Moines; Red Right Hand; Way Down in the Hole; Midnight Bell; Half Way to Heaven; Rhythm-a-ning; Secret Love; A Song for You. 
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