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

Tue 10: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 11: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington.. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 11: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

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: Harmony Brass @ 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.

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, January 02, 2024

Preview: 2024 (part 2)

And then there's the students. Largely term time dependent, keep an eye and ear open for Durham University students (Fabio's, jam session, Durham University Big Band at various venues), Newcastle University Jazz Orchestra (gigs and jam sessions here and there) and Jason Holcomb (Head of Brass, Newcastle University) leading a regular student jam night upstairs at the Globe. 

And then there's the festivals...Great North Big Band Jazz Festival (March 1-3), Hexham Jazz Festival (late May), Newcastle Jazz Festival (mid-August), Newcastle Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music (late September/early October) and Mike Durham's International Classic Jazz Party (Nov 1-3).    

Big bands = sold out shows. The magnificent Strictly Smokin' Big Band frequently attracts full houses. Throughout 2024 the SSBB will be here, there and everywhere, not least at the Fire Station on Friday 17 May to launch a new album. The band's special guests in Sunderland will be none other than Alan Barnes and Bruce Adams! Top class big bands can be heard across the region including the Bold Big Band (see photo), the Customs House Big Band, the Darlington Big Band, Durham Alumni Big Band, Musicians Unlimited and the recently formed Saltburn Big Band.

BSH salutes many a success story. How about this for 2024? The Abbie Finn Trio will launch a new album (Stotties for Three) at, wait for it...the Pizza Express in Soho, London! If you're in town on Monday 15 January get along to the Dean Street pizzeria to show your support. At the same London venue on Saturday 20th it's the turn of the Durham University Big Band - and this one is already sold out!
 
And finally, never mind Tyneside, never mind London, try Los Angeles and New York. In the next ten days or so Jo Harrop and Paul Edis will be undertaking a dream coast-to-coast trip to America to perform, first in New York (Jan 13), then San Francisco (Jan 19) before returning to the Big Apple to appear at Dizzy's Club on January 24! 

Resolutions? Here's one, resolve to get out to gigs, be it in Hebburn or Harlem, Laygate or London, New York (North Tyneside) or New York (USA)! Russell
at

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