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

18246 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 100 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 31), 100

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

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.

Fri 06: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 06: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 06: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 06: Durham Alumni Big Band & Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn Theatre. 7:30pm. £12.00. Two big bands on stage together!
Fri 06: Nauta + Littlewood Trio @ Little Buildings, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Double bill + jam session.
Fri 06: FILM: Made in America @ Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Ornette Coleman.
Fri 06: Deep Six Blues @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.

Sat 07: The Big Easy @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club.
Sat 07: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30-3:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 07: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. St Thomas & Bésame Mucho. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 07: Side Cafe Oᴙkestar @ Café Under the Spire, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Table reservations: 0191 477 3970.
Sat 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 08: Swing Tyne @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12 noon (doors). Donations. Swing dance taster class (12:30pm) + Hot Club de Heaton (live performance). Non dancers welcome.
Sun 08: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: Gerry Richardson’s Big Idea @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 09: Mark Williams Trio @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 09: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 10: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. 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, 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.

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(!)

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!

Blog Archive