Bebop Spoken There

Emma Rawicz: "In a couple of years I've gone from being a normal university student to suddenly being on international stages." DownBeat January 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

18219 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 73 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 24), 73

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Fri 30: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 30: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 30: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 30: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 30: Pete Roth Trio @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). Feat. Bill Bruford.
Fri 30: Jive Aces @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm.
Fri 30: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Northern Edge Coffee, Silver St., Berwick. 7:00pm.
Fri 30: Dan Coulthurst Quintet @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £10.00 + £1.00. bf (www.wegottickets.com). Coulthurst (trumpet); Joel Steadman (bass clarinet, flute); Nico Widdowson (piano); Fergus Quill (double bass); Theo Goss (drums).

Sat 31: Darling Dollies @ St George’s Church, Jesmond, Newcastle. 3:00pm. £10.00. Vocal trio.
Sat 31: Brass Fiesta @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 10:30pm. Free.

FEBRUARY 2026

Sun 01: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 01: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Quintet + guest Bill Watson (trumpet, flugelhorn).
Sun 01: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: Annie & the Caldwells @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £25.00. adv. Gospel/soul.
Sun 01: Jive Aces @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm.
Sun 01: Olly Styles Experience + Jenny Baker @ the Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 02: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 02: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

Tue 03: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 03: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 04: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 04: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 04: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 05: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject:Times of the Day & Trios.
Thu 05: Jeremy McMurray’s Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Special guest Emma Wilson.
Thu 05: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

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, September 01, 2008

Paul Edis Sextet at The Side Café

First day of the new term. Admission may have gone up a pound but with a cash point opposite it's no excuse for missing out on an appetising opening session by the Paul Edis Sextet (see previous post for personnel). As well as some innovative takes on standards, there were original compositions by Paul and Graeme. All were well received by an appreciative, near capacity, audience.. Clifford Brown's "Joyspring" with Noel Dennis on Flugel had a warm sound and Graeme Wilson's chart of "Autumn In New York", whilst it may not have been quite what Vernon Duke intended, sounded PDG. Chris Hibbard, on trombone, did the business on "Carnival". Trombone can be the most luscious sounding of instruments when played ballad style. Mick, Adam and Paul were of course as cool a rhythm section as ever as well as soloing to advantage. Paul, in particular, was on form. At times the ideas just seemed to explode into a kaleidoscope of sound. If there was a low point and it is a very big 'if' then it has to be "Caravan". The Juan Tizol tune is one of my blind spots and tonight didn't change things. Nevertheless, Adam Sinclair did have some imaginative breaks that eased the pain a little. A corker. Next week Mark Williams Trio.
at

2 comments :

Anonymous said...

I agree that the gig was excellent.I thought Noel Dennis excelled.How come you don't like Caravan?I bet Chris Hibbard played in a brass band.He has a nice measured approach,not least on Caravan(!)

Wednesday, September 03, 2008 5:51:00 pm
Lance said...

I love "Caravan" or rather I did the first million times I heard it. After that, well you know what familiarity breeds...
Some tunes I can listen to ad infinitum and still love them. Others, such as "Caravan", "Summertime", "Over The Rainbow" and "Mood Indigo" irritate me purely because they've been done to death.
It's a personal thing and I'm quite sure other people feel the same about some of my favourites such as "Way You Look Tonight", "Body and Soul" among others.
And yes Chris H did solo well on "Caravan" - despite the tune!

Wednesday, September 03, 2008 5:58:00 pm

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )

Blog Archive