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, August 05, 2023

Preview: Newcastle Jazz Festival - Saturday August 19

Two weeks today (Saturday, August 19) it's the first of two full days of action at Tyne Bank Brewery. Located east of the Ouseburn on Walker Road, the brewery's spacious premises is the ideal venue for an all day festival. Doors open at one o'clock with the first set getting underway half an hour later. 

First on stage at 1:30pm, it's the Ruth Lambert Duo! Vocalist Ruth Lambert's recently formed collaboration with guitarist Martin Craggs is an occasional pairing and this Newcastle Jazz Festival appearance is likely to win the duo many new fans. 

Following Lambert and Craggs at 2:40pm it's the Giles Strong Quartet. Quietly-spoken Strong is one of the finest guitarists around and his current quartet features three of the region's most in demand musicians: Pete Tanton (trumpet, flugelhorn), Ian Paterson (double bass) and John Bradford (drums). Expect a set of accomplished original compositions alongside one or two choice standards. At 3:50pm stand by for a border raid. Currently playing a series of sold out shows at this year's Edinburgh Fringe, JazzMain - Nick Gould (tenor sax), pianist Steve Grossart, bassist Iain Harkness and drummer Kevin Dorrian - will hit Tyne Bank with a swinging Blue Note-inspired set. 

At five o'clock the Dean Stockdale Quartet will be Celebrating Oscar. Stockdale (piano), Tim Williams (guitar), Gavin Barras (double bass) and Max Popp (drums) will be playing, yes, you've guessed it...Oscar Peterson! Stockdale's homage to the late, great Canadian pianist has won universal praise and this is one set you really shouldn't miss. If there's a busier, hard working musician than Nigel Price your correspondent has yet to come across them. Topping the bill at a quarter past six in the evening is the Nigel Price Organ Trio, that's Price (guitar), Ross Stanley (Hammond organ) and Joel Barford (drums). Price is a stupendous guitarist, Stanley is a master of the Hammond and the brilliant Barford, in his mid-twenties, has to be seen (and heard) to be believed. Make no mistake, this will be one seriously smokin' set! 

Ninety minutes later (7:45pm) Saturday at Tyne Bank Brewery will be brought to a close by Hoochie Coochie favourites Swannek. Fronted by vocalist Mollie Birmingham this is jazz, funk, soul and a whole lot more. Jazz for the twenty first century!  

Advance day tickets are a bargain at £18.00 (those who have purchased a five day festival pass will be guaranteed entry). Check out: www.newcastlejazzfestival.co.uk. Alternatively, if Saturday isn't an advance sell out you'll be able to pay at the door. Don't take a chance, book in advance! Russell  
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