Bebop Spoken There

Ron Carter quoting Sonny Rollins: ''What we call jazz - that's keeping the world in equilibrium. I don't care what kind of music you like out here today. It all comes from jazz.'' (DownBeat August, 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

18799 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 663 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 12) 32.

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

From This Moment On

August

Mon 17: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 20: Edson Angus Quartet @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 20: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Fri 21: Andrzej Baranek Trio @ The Lit & Phil. 1:00pm. £8.00. Andrzej Baranek (piano); Josh Cavanagh-Brierley (double bass); Dave Walsh (drums). SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 21: David Gray Flextet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 21: Errol Linton & His Band + Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. Excellent blues double bill.

Sat 22: Durham Alumni Big Band + Durham Alumni All Stars + Swing Manouche @ Darlington Market Place. From 1:00pm. Free. The All Stars (1:00pm); The Alumni (2:00-4:00pm); Swing Manouche (4:15pm).

Sun 23: Tyne Valley Big Band @ Royal Quays Marina, North Shields. 2:00-4:00pm. Free..
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free..
Sun 23: Blue Note Quintet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. £12.00., £10.00..
Sun 23: Timmy Allan Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Sunday, June 02, 2024

Enrico Tomasso's Swing Company @ Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club - June 1

Enrico Tomasso (trumpet, cornet, vocals); Trevor Whiting (alto sax, soprano sax, clarinet); Spats Langham (guitar, banjo, vocals); Malcolm Sked (double bass); Nick Ward (drums); Cia Tomasso (vocals) 

When Rico Tomasso is in town you know it's going to be a good one. St Augustine's Parish Centre attracted a large crowd there to listen to Rico's Swing Company featuring rising star vocalist Cia Tomasso. Most of those present had yet to hear Cia sing. Little did they know they were in for a treat.

The horns - Rico (trumpet and cornet) and Trevor Whiting (alto sax, soprano sax and clarinet) - took the lion's share of the solos with some nifty guitar playing from their bandmate, the one-and-only Tom 'Spats' Langham. Material from the swing era formed the bulk of the set list and Rico's Swing Company most certainly did swing. The boys in the engine room - string bassist Malcolm Sked and period percussionist extraordinaire Nick Ward - really did swing it.

Up a Lazy RiverChina BoyDown in Honky Tonk Town, Rico's Swing Company took us back to the '30s, our bandleader singing the praises of the composers and musicians of the time. Cia Tomasso, Rico's daughter, created a stir - phrasing, timing, range, the lot. Known for her love of Billie Holiday, this afternoon Cia focussed upon Lee Wiley and her many recordings of classic songs, including I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance with YouOh! Look at Me NowStreet of Dreams, a magnificent take on Manhattan and again on I've Got a Crush on You

It had been a marvellous afternoon, Rico and co (Swing Company) the established star names, Cia Tomasso, sure to feature in online/magazine polls. A 'Rising Star', that's Cia Tomasso. Russell        

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