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

Wednesday, May 10, 2023

West Coast Octet @ the Railway, Stockport - May 9

(© Jeff Pritchard)
Eileen Guppy (piano); Paul Hartley (guitar); Ben Wilshire (bass); Andy Bold (drums); Gair Carson (tenor sax); Duncan Winfield (trombone); Neil Kershaw (flugel); Simon Reynolds (baritone sax).

Dave Pell (1925-2017) worked as a sideman in many well known big bands such as Shorty Rogers, Gene Krupa, and Les Brown. He also worked in the Hollywood film and recording studios and many famous jazz musicians including Art Pepper, Benny Carter and Pepper Adams passed through the ranks of his octet. As a saxophonist he was heavily influenced by Lester Young but as a bandleader his small groups had a distinct west coast sound.

This tribute band played twenty tunes tonight which has got to be a record for total numbers played at this venue. Paul Hartley did a great job handling the guitar parts but also introduced each tune and proved to be an entertaining and informative narrator.  Pell used the best arrangers for his octet and tonight we got to hear some interesting arrangements by Marty Paich, Shorty Rogers and Mel Tormé etc.


There were two young musicians that I had not seen before at the Railway and they had an important role in the proceedings. They were Simon Reynolds on baritone sax and Neil Kershaw on flugelhorn and I would like to hear more from both of them.


Everyone played their parts well and contributed solos but they were short ones due to the restrictions of the arrangements, most of which I liked. Highspots for me were Mountain Greenery. If I Had You, and Angel Eyes mainly because I just like those tunes! I once picked up a real bargain at a charity shop for  50p which was a CD titled Dave Pell Octet Live at Alphonse's and another bargain buy was from an antique shop in Geelong, Australia, last year which I haven’t got round to playing yet. This was Dave Pell Plays Today's Hits in Jazz some of which were featured in tonight's concert. 


It was pleasing to see a good Tuesday night turnout. The next jazz night at the Railway is on Sunday May 14 with the Dave Lynane Quartet. Mike Farmer


Walking my Baby Back Home; Isle of Capri; Angel Eyes; Working On The Railroad; Mountain Greenery; Cast Your Fate to the Wind; Java Junction; You Are Too Beautiful; Have You Met Miss Jones?; And a Piece of Pie; Tishomingo Blues; Forty Second Street; Six Two Five; If I Had You; Ballin’ the Jack; Shimmy Sha Wobble; By The River St Marie; Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered; One Note Samba; Like Someone in Love

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