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

Monday, December 09, 2024

3 x 3 tonight!

© Roly Veitch
Tonight I'm spoilt for choice! Three trios to pick from. Two, tried and tested over course and distance, one, as yet, an unknown quantity - at least to me.

Mon 09: James Birkett Trio @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00. Looks very tempting. How could it not be with James Birkett on board? When it comes to swinging guitar jazz be it á la Eddie Lang, Django Reinhardt, Jim Hall or Pat Metheny, James Birkett's your man. Tonight he'll be in the company of Jeremy McMurray on piano and Andy Champion on bass. Well worth gannin' along the Scotswood Road for.

Mon 09: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30-8:30pm. Free. Earlier, in Sunderland at the Engine Room, Michael Young (piano), Paul Grainger (bass) and Abbie Finn (drums) form a more conventional piano trio line-up although the actual material will probably be less conventional in the form of a jazzified contemporary popular song book set list which will, I am sure, go down well with the diners tucking in to the Christmas menu. 

Mon 09: Trio Grand @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. This is the unknown quantity and, as an investigative jazz blogger, it's where I'll be. Of the three members of Trio Grand - Georg Voros (drums/vocals), Paul Carter (bass guitar) and Barbara Wilcox (keys, vocals)* - Barbara Wilcox is the only one to have previously graced the pages of BSH. This she has done via some glowing reports of her vocal/keyboard prowess at the Ticket Office and other venues down at the coast.

Whichever gig you choose it looks like you'll be on a winner - keep music live. Lance

*Comparing photos of Barbara Wilcox as posted on BSH and the Globe website has me wondering if there are two Barbara Wilcoxs who sing and play piano in the locality? Tonight I shall find out!

No comments :

Blog Archive