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Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 2025).

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

17719 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 39 of them this year alone and, so far, 39 this month (Jan. 15).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Fri 17: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 17: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 17: Joe Steels Trio w. Graham Hardy @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £10.00. (inc. a welcome drink & table reservation). Book at: www.drinks@thepele.co.uk. A ‘Jazz at the Pele’ promotion.
Fri 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 18: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 18: Alter Ego + Jamie Toms/Graham Don Duo @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 18: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Repas 7 by Night, West St., Berwick TD15 1AS. 7:30pm. Free. Album launch gig.
Sat 18: Delta Prophets @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 19: Glenn Miller Orchestra UK @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm. ‘Glenn Miller & the Rat Pack Era’.
Sun 19: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 19: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:15-7:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 19: Tenement Jazz Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 19: Nick Ross Orchestra @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.
Sun 19: Freight Train (Tobin/Noble/Clarvis) @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 20: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 21: ???

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 22: Pasadena Roof Orchestra @ Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.

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

Sunday, September 17, 2023

Rico Tomasso with the Derrick Harris Quartet @ Seven Arts, Leeds - Sept. 17

Rico Tomasso (trumpet, flugelhorn, vocals); Derrick Harris (guitar); Andrzej Baranek (piano); Steve Crocker (double bass); Paul Smith (drums)

Rico Tomasso is from round these here parts. As a kid it was his old stomping ground. Graduating from Leeds College of Music he made the move south, bright lights, big city 'n' all that. It had been six years since his last gig in the city. This afternoon he made a welcome return home. The SOLD OUT! notices must have gladdened the heart.  

Choosing to open on flugelhorn rather than his customary trumpet, Rico was in the very best of company: guitarist Derrick Harris (a name familiar to BSH readers thanks to Mike Farmer's regular gig reviews from the Railway in Stockport); the brilliant pianist Andrzej Baranek (often heard working with Gaz Hughes); Steve Crocker (bassist and a key figure working tirelessly on the local jazz scene) and drummer Paul Smith (not to be confused with his namesake up on Teesside).

Almost Like Being in Love and the first chorus of You and the Night and the Music played on flugelhorn, Rico then switching to trumpet and sticking with it to produce a knockout version of St James' Infirmary (trumpet and vocals). Seven Come Eleven, Baubles, Bangles and Beads, this was Rico swinging through the forties, fifties and beyond. I've Got the World on a String, Brotherhood of Man, and the song Louis Armstrong made his own, What a Wonderful World.

The interval: another pint of the Rooster Brewing Company's Original Yankee Pale Ale, a raffle ticket (a winning raffle ticket!) and in no time Rico and the boys were ready for the second set. 

The Way You Look Tonight and then something of a surprise, Rico picked up his Harmon tin mute to play Miles. Yes, modal era Miles Davis, as good a take on All Blues as you're likely to hear. As Rico was about to play Irving Berlin's Without My Walking Stick, legendary drummer Ronnie Bottomley, sitting in the front row, just happened to have at his side a walking stick. Rico borrowed it and held onto it as he blew his horn. A magical moment. The show wouldn't have been half as good without the excellent contributions of his bandmates (Andrzej Baranek outstanding throughout).           

An encore was assured. Irving Berlin's The Song is Ended (But the Melody Lingers On) sent us on our way. It had been a magical day. Russell

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