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

Tuesday, December 31, 2024

Lest we forget ...

This is one End of  the Year listing that is always difficult to post. From a personal point of view, 2024 has been a  particularly difficult year for me.

Jazz people who left us in 2024:

Jan. 29: Dave Murphy - Legendary north east bass player.  

Jan. 30: Marlene Liddle - My dearly beloved wife and inspiration (see photo).   

Feb. 1: Gordon Marshall - Top north east lead trumpet player. 

May 6: Bill Holman - Top American arranger and saxophonist.    

May 22: Glenn Cartlidge - Outstanding north west guitarist.      

July 10: George Davidson - Drummer with Rendezvous Jazz. 

July 19: Brian Ebbatson - Huge supporter of north east jazz.

July 22: John Mayall - Legendary British blues legend.

Aug. 24: Ann Alexander (Ann Alex) - BSH reviewer and good friend.

Sept. 5: Martin France - British drummer and educator who died too young.

Sept. 7: Dan Morgenstein - American jazz critic, historian etc.

Sept. 8: Zoot Money - Legendary British blues legend.

Sept. 17: Tony Haynes - Leader of Grand Union Orchestra.

Sept. 21: Benny Golson - American tenor sax legend.

Sept. 27: John Cram - Local accordionist, organist & friend.

Oct. 2: Tommy Weatherley - North east trombonist.

Oct. 15: Malcolm Armstrong - Pianist with various north east bands.

Nov. 3: Quincy Jones - The iconic producer, arranger, composer etc.

Nov. 5: Roy Cansdale - Highly respected Cumbrian based bassist.

Nov. 9: Lou Donaldson - Funky American alto saxist.

Nov. 13: John Broddle - Popular local jazz singer.

Nov. 20: John Prescott - Jazz-loving former Labour MP.

Nov. 23: Alistair Robertson - Jazz fan and founder of Hep Records.

Dec. 12: Martial Solal - Legendary French pianist and composer.

Dec. 13: Derek Ansell - Jazz writer, novelist, critic.

Dec. 15: Zakir Hussain - Indo-jazz maestro.

Dec. 28: Barre Phillips - Legendary avant-garde bassist.

My apologies to the friends, fans and families of anyone I've overlooked - it wasn't intentional. Lance

2 comments :

Mike Farmer said...

Another who left us was Anthony Pinciotti New York drummer who played frequently at Smalls and Mezzrow. I heard someone talking about his passing during a podcast recently. This was confirmed by Spike Wilmer during his set at Mezzrow when he mentioned how devastated he was when he heard the news. Pinciotti was an important member of Spike’s trio. -Mike

Carstairs said...

A lot of lonely houses - personal and some I never met.

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