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

Mon 16: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 16: Jasper Lo + Daniel Chandler Trio @ Little Buildings, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £7.00. + bf.
Mon 16: Joe Steels Group @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00. A Blue Patch album tour.

Tue 17: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Victoria & Albert Inn, Seaton Delaval. 12:30pm. £9.50. Tickets: 0191 237 3697. ‘Jazz ‘n’ Pancakes’.
Tue 17: John Pope & John Garner @ The Great Hall, Sutherland Building, Northumbria University. 1:15pm. Free. Double bass & violin.
Tue 17: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Stu Collingwood (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); John Hirst (drums).

Wed 18: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 18: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 18: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 19: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: George Shearing Jazz Moments.

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.

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, December 11, 2025

Bold Big Band @ Cluny 2, Newcastle - Dec. 10

Bold Big Band: Jacob Lightfoot, Max Storey (alto sax); Jamie Toms, Georgia ? (tenor sax); Brian Wicks (baritone sax, MD); Billy Bradshaw, Bill Watson, Josh Skyrme, David ? (trumpets); Alex Utting, Bertie Marks, Thomas McDonald, Simon Hirst (trombones); Jacob Egglestone (guitar); Marcus Dawe (piano); Ifede Osiyemi (bass guitar); Jack Littlewood (drums); Cara Britton (vocals)

The Bold Big Band down in the Ouseburn at this time of year can mean only one thing - Christmas at the Cluny! It's become an annual thing. Brian Wicks' roaring big band in Cluny 2, Christmas crackers, terrible jokes (courtesy of Mr B. Wicks), a beer or three and some cracking charts.

A Latin number for openers, Sammy Nestico's arrangement of Good Swing WenceslasIt's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year featuring bandleader Wicks' baritone sax, the Hip-Bone Big Band's Trombone Institute of Technology, a touch of Disney, Les Brown's Nutcracker Suite, the Bold Big Band knocked 'em out of the park.

Second set: Michel Camilo's One More Once, featuring depping tenor saxophonist Jamie Toms, raised the bar, a Tom Kubis arrangement of Deck the Halls reminded us the 'season to be' is almost upon us. Yes, more bold, brassy big band jazz from the Bold Big Band. 

And what of the band's vocalist? The Bold Big Band is known for, well, being 'bold'. Cara Britton came out fighting, determined to be heard, and heard she was! Singing half a dozen numbers across the evening, Ms. B gave it everything, not least on Deedle's Blues and Too Darn Hot

The Bold Big Band's trumpet section impressed, the rhythm section never took its foot off the gas all night, indeed all sections did the business. This being the season, O Tannenbaum put in an appearance, and, to close the show, Cara Britton returned to send us on our way with a raucous Let the Good Times RollRussell  

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