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

Monday, September 30, 2024

Press release: Meet the promoters making a difference to emerging talent across the North of England.

Today, Jazz North announces the seven promoters awarded bursaries to present emerging artists in their programmes through its support scheme, New Northern. 

Bursaries up to £1000 were awarded to the North West Music Academy (Barrow-in-Furness), Paul Rigby (The Continental, Preston), Nanette Brimble (YardFest, Saltaire), Anna Ross (Offshoots in Leeds), Robert Walker (Scarborough Jazz), DJ Lubi (Leeds) and Wesley Stephenson’s New Jazz and Improvised Music Recordings (Newcastle-upon-Tyne). 

Chris Bye, Jazz North CEO, says: “Jazz North is thrilled to support the work of promoters across the North of England who are working to keep grassroots music alive and support that all important pipeline of talent in the North.”

North West Music Academy 

North West Music Academy (NWMA) is developing a 4 storey heritage building in the heart of Barrow-in-Furness into a dedicated centre for music education & performance. As part of this they are establishing a regular platform for jazz - launching a micro-festival in 2025 which will become an annual event.

Big Bands @ The Continental Preston - Paul Rigby 

Paul Rigby will present big bands at The continental in Preston. The events will showcase young and old talent but most of all give aspiring musicians in a big band setting a much needed voice to help hone their craft to jazz. Expect many a full house which young and old attend and appreciate exciting music from swing to funk.

YardFest @ Caroline Street Social Club - Nanette Brimble

Jazz North is supporting the fortnightly YardFest Jazz night in Saltaire, Bradford by topping up its ability to fund a varied programme to include more local emerging artists. 

Offshoots - Anna Ross

Offshoots is a jazz, experimental and avant-garde event which takes part in independent venues across Leeds. The aim of Offshoots is to give a platform to a diverse range of new musicians and provide a safe and non-judgemental experience for musicians to gain experience performing live. 

Scarborough Jazz - Robert Walker

Through New Northern, Scarborough Jazz will support fees for emerging artists presented  through their longstanding schemes Scarborough Jazz Introduces and New Jazz Generation. The first of these is an event at Scarborough Jazz which takes place on Wednesday 2nd. October (The Cask) and features the Jascha Bingham Trio. Find out more:  http://www.scarboroughjazz.co.uk/

DJ Lubi @ Hyde Park Book Club, Headrow House, Brudenell Social Club and Belgrave MusicHall - Lubi Jovanovic 

DJ Lubi will  present a program of contemporary jazz and world jazz at four venues across Leeds (Hyde Park Book Club, Headrow House, Brudenell Social Club, Belgrave Music Hall) featuring emerging Leeds artists - both professional and student musicians - taking place from October 2024 to February 2025 (9 gigs). 

New Jazz and Improvised Music Recordings - Wesley Stephenson 

New Northern funding will enable a brand new release through New Jazz and Improvised Music Recordings with a supporting album launch concert in Newcastle upon Tyne.

The New Jazz and Improvised Music Recordings project was established during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, offering a creative output for musicians when live performance opportunities were unavailable and encouraging artist independence.

www.newjazzandimprovisedmusicrecordings.bandcamp.com

On being awarded the bursary, Wesley Stephenson says: “New Jazz and Improvised Music Recordings is delighted receive support from New Northern to help enable the longevity of the recording project and to continue supporting exceptional improvised music in the North of England.”

For more information on upcoming events supported by New Northern, sign up to Jazz North’s mailing list: https://www.jazznorth.org/sendmemail

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