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

18317 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 171 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Feb. 23), 71

From This Moment On ...

February

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).

Sat 28: Boys of Brass @ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Sat 28: Ray Stubbs R&B Allstars @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. Free.

March

Sun 01: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 01: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free Quintet + guest Dan Johnson (tenor sax).
Sun 01: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00.
Sun 01: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: Fergus McCreadie & Matt Carmichael @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 3:00-4:30pm.
Sun 01: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: Littlewood Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £10.00., £8.00. adv., £6.00. 25 & under. Marcus Dawe (piano); Ifedi Osiyemi (bass); Jack Littlewood (drums).

Mon 02: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 02: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 02: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

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, November 24, 2025

Sunday night @ the Globe: Greg Abate w. the Dean Stockdale Trio - Nov. 23

© John Lyons
Greg Abate (alto sax); Dean Stockdale (piano); Ken Marley (bass); Abbie Finn (drums)

A taxi dash from Pilgrim St. to Railway St. got me to the Globe in time to catch the great American alto saxophonist Greg Abate. A JNE/Jazz Co-op c0-promotion, this gig too was well-attended and deservedly so.

© John Lyons
Abate has made many appearances in the north east dating back to the early days of BSH when the Corner House was still the epicentre of Newcastle's jazz scene. Indeed Greg was probably one of the last American 'names' to play there.

Since then there have been few jazz venues he hasn't played at in the area, often with varying personnel and always with a positive response. This line-up is probably as good as any and they responded intuitively to the twists and turns he often indulged in.

© Ken Drew
A noted Parker specialist, he opened the first set dancing through the changes of Yardbird Suite with a facility that eludes all but the chosen few. He does it meaningfully, not just fingerbusting runs that he learned in the woodshed but phrases and passages picked up during a lifetime of gigging around the world.

© Ken Drew
Ceora, by Lee Morgan, was followed by Softly as in a Morning Sunrise which wasn't softly at all but had blistering solos all round with Abbie in particular working out impressively and one of many fine solos by Marley.

Kerry's Song, composed by Greg for his wife, was a pleasant bossa whilst Body and Soul was packed with emotion from all four. Beautiful!

On the Road, a fast original that brought the set to a close with a bang. Incidentally, a live version by Greg recorded at the Black Swan with the Paul Edis Trio  can be viewed on YouTube HERE (see comment).

© Ken Drew
After the raffle won by number 89 the second set got underway with On Green Dolphin St. followed by an original by Greg dedicated to his children then more 'Bird' with Billie's Bounce and Steeplechase which segued into Ornithology.

Angel Eyes was something else. Not just by Greg whose solo was drenched in emotion but also by Stockdale who had been, and still was, in top form from the off. YouTube LINK.

The show finished with Kenny Barron's Voyage which brought a most enjoyable evening to a close. Come back soon. Lance

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1 comment :

Ken Drew said...

A fine evening with great musicians playing a good selection of well-known or self-penned tunes by Abate. Nice for Lance (reviewer-in-chief) to have remembered and referenced an earlier Abate visit (Nov 2019) when Jazz North East shared a couple of tunes - the other one was Angel Eyes (a fond favourite of mine) with Abate playing flute, and Paul Edis on keys. This was the first year in which I'd shot videos.... there has been some improvement since then - but the playing always stands its own ground - solid !! Angel Eyes Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5oX1R-Fpa8

Monday, November 24, 2025 7:51:00 pm

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