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

Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: John Settle Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. John Settle (vibes); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 14: Bold Big Band @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £8.00 + bf.

Sat 15: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 15: Jake Leg Jug Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £16.26.

Sun 16: Vintage Explosion @ Cliffe Park, Roker, Sunderland SR6 8DB. 5:00-10:30pm. £44.00 (inc. bf).

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.

Monday, October 14, 2024

Sunday night @ the Globe - Dulcie May Moreno - Oct. 13

© Patti/Sylvia
Dulcie May Moreno (vocals); Mark Williams (guitar); Mick Shoulder (bass); John Bradford (drums)

Across the road in the aircraft hanger known as the Utilita Arena, Becky Hill was feeding the 10,700. In the Globe Dulcie May Moreno was preaching to a lesser congregation. In a perfect world the situation would have been reversed. At least nobody in the Globe needed medical attention.

Dulcie is a regular visitor to the area (she was born here) and never fails to captivate an audience as was proved last night.

Opening up with Dat Dere I was immediately taken by the almost operatic range and the purity of her voice. To have those qualities and still maintain the all-important jazz feel is no mean feat but Dulcie does it with apparent ease.

Our Love is Here to Stay, one of Gershwin's greatest love songs was beautifully sung and had an expressive solo by Mark. However, given the nature of the song I felt that the fours by bass and drums seemed out of place on such a ballad. This is no reflection on Mick or John who, like Mark, were superb throughout. Dulcie's final note left you hanging in the air - a beautiful touch.  

Dulcie was in Chet Baker mode for Do it the Hard Way and, in the absence of a trumpet, made up for it with a scat chorus.

Walkin' had a nice feel to it. A bossa that I didn't catch the title of but captured the Gilberto groove and had excellent contributions from guitar, bass and drums followed and Doodlin' brought us up to the interval.

Everyone was happy.

Pure Imagination, No Moon at All and a terrific Take me to New York from her recent mini-album, reviewed HERE, kept the momentum going as did Humility Blues from the same album.

I'm in the Mood For Love had me swooning like a Becky Hill fan. The show drew towards a close with that grand old showstopper Mercy, Mercy, Mercy but I had to leave at the end of the second Mercy to avoid the mass exodus from across the road.

Great singer, great band - who needs Ibiza? Lance

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