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

Thursday, July 31, 2025

An August preview


It's the calm before the storm. Relatively speaking, August is a quiet month on the gig front. Come September, gigs will be stacking up here, there and everywhere. August's schedule is bolstered by the region's many weekly and monthly residencies which see no reason to shut up shop - good for them!

On the first of the month (Friday), Yorkshire-born, London-resident, saxophonist Matt Anderson returns to the region to play a Matt Anderson and Friends engagement at Saltburn Community Hall. It's a seven thirty start, tickets available online or pay at the door. Saltburn, Monday 4th sees the Saltburn Big Band opening up its Saltburn House Hotel rehearsal night to the public. Free admission, seven o'clock start.

Bishop Auckland Jazz presents the John Settle Quartet at its new home on Cockton Hill Road on Friday 8th. It's a one o'clock start, £8.00. at the door (that's the door to Bishop Auckland Methodist Church). Recommended. On Sunday 10th there's a 'two-gigs-in-a-day' option. Pilgrim (formerly Hoochie Coochie) on Pilgrim Street, Newcastle presents the Paul Skerritt Big Band. Doors at 4:00pm, with Mr Skerritt hitting the stage at 5:15pm. Down the road on Railway Street at Newcastle Jazz Co-op, guitarist Joe Steels will be on stage at 8:00pm. From Pilgrim Street take the bus/your helicopter and/or run and you'll be at the Globe in no time!

Pianist Rick Laughlin plays a trio gig (Dan Johnson and Stuie Ellerton) at Darlington's Vault on Thursday 14th. It's a seven o'clock start. £10.00. admission. The following day, Friday 15th (1:00pm), the Dean Stockdale Quartet returns to Newcastle's Lit & Phil to salute Oscar Peterson. Pianist Dean will be playing music by the great Oscar Peterson, born this day, exactly one hundred years ago (15.8.1925). Dean's quartet features the brilliant Tim Williams (guitar), the equally brilliant Gavin Barras (double bass) and, depping on drums, none other than Russ Morgan! The concert sold out several months ago. To enquire about returns, call 0191 232 0192.

Blaydon Jazz Club's August concert (Monday 18th) features Swing Manouche. Formed and led by Mick Shoulder to play the music of late-period Django Reinhardt, why not join Mick (guitar), Dave Smith (rhythm guitar), Paul Grainger (string bass) and, on clarinet, the marvel that is Martin Winning, for an evening of all things 'Django'? The Black Bull on Bridge Street is likely to be busy. Arrive in good time for an eight o'clock start. It's a tenner at the door. 

Sunday 24th is another double header. Trumpeter Chris Coull can be found at Queen's HallHexham at 3:00pm and later in the day at Jazz Co-op HQ on Railway Street, Newcastle at 8:00pm. Two gigs, why not go to both?!

At the end of the month singer Nel Begley makes not one, not two, not three, but four appearances in the BSH region. That's three concerts and one workshop. First up, Nel leads a Jazz Vocal Choir workshop at Hexham Community Centre on Gilesgate (1:00-5:00pm). To sign up to the Core Music event, go to www.ticcketsource.co.uk. At the same time, same venue, Paul Edis leads a World Premiere in an Afternoon workshop. In the evening, Nel, Paul and Luke Fowler will be at Newcastle Arts Centre (7:30pm). The next day (Friday 29th), the trio will be at the Gala in Durham (1:00pm). To enquire about returns, call 03000 266 600. And on Friday evening, it's all back to Hexham Community Centre for the third of three concert performances (7:30pm).

Finally, on the last day of the month (Sunday 31st), Newcastle Jazz Co-op presents drummer John Hirst's new quartet. Not just any old quartet, mind you. John's Blue Pearl quartet features Luis Verde (alto sax), Joe Steels (guitar) and John Pope (bass). Their focus will be upon Bud Powell, specifically the bop-era pianist's music and his lasting influence on successive generations of jazz musicians, John Hirst included. The word 'unmissable' springs to mind. Russell 

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