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

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, July 27, 2024

The Bold Big Band @ The Old Coal Yard, Newcastle - July 26

Jacob Lightfoot, Max Storey, Crissi Booth, Lucy McCartan, Brian Wicks (reeds); Billy Bradshaw, Sam Armstrong, James Bateman, Andrew Marshall (trumpets); Alex Utting, Bertie Marks, Josh Scott, Ciaran Skipper (trombones), Conor Polley (bass trombone, vocals); Ben Davies (guitar); Marcus Dawe (keyboards); Ifede Osiyemi (bass guitar); Dan Arenstein (drums)

A Newcastle Fringe event, a late Friday evening gig, doors open to the elements, there was every chance the Bold Big Band would be heard loud and clear across the Tyne to Gateshead and beyond. As we were on the premises of the Northern Alchemy Brewery the pick had to be In Orbit (4.5%), described as a 'classic winter session stout'. Minutes before the down beat members of the band were busy 'socialising'...hic!

Magic Flea opened the show in typical barnstorming Bold Big Band fashion. Backrow Politics maintained the momentum, the ace trumpet section attempting to blow the roof off the place. From Sammy Nestico and Gordon Goodwin to Hank Levy's arrangement for the Kenton band of Time for a Change, if you're at a BBB gig this is what you get, a full on big band sound.  

The Simpsons (arr. Les Hooper) featured a rare baritone sax solo from the man himself, MD Brian Wicks, Benny Golson's Whisper Not (arr. Michael Abene) featured the tenors Crissi Booth and Lucy McCartan, Tom Kubis' quirky arrangement of Alexander's Ragtime Band trained the spotlight on the soon-to-depart Ben Davies (guitar). Bass trombone man Conor Polley stepped out of the section to sing a couple - Cry Me a River (bold delivery, Bold Big Band delivery!) and, to much whooping and hollering, That's Life. 

The BBB's scheduled one hour set extended to the best part of an hour and a half, hey, they were having fun! MD Wicks name-checked the band, taking care to note the imminent departure of three members of the band - James Bateman (trumpet) is off to Canada, drummer Dan Arenstein is heading to Australia and the aforementioned Ben Davies has landed a cruise ship job. Time for one more (a deserved encore), a rip-roaring take on The Incredibles. Russell       
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