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

Thu 29: The Noel Dennis Band @ Prohibition Bar, Albert Road, Middlesbrough TS1 2RU. 7:00pm (doors). £10.84. Quartet plus special guest Zoë Gilby. Over 35s only. Rescheduled from December 4th.
Thu 29: Oh No Noh + Dan Coulthurst Quintet @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £16.45., £13.28., £12.22., £9.04. Coulthurst (trumpet); Joel Steadman (bass clarinet, flute); Nico Widdowson (piano); Fergus Quill (double bass); Theo Goss (drums).

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: 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: TBC.
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

Thursday, February 26, 2009

R.I.P Ian Carr - A North-east Innovator

Their can be few north-east jazz fans of 'a certain age' who aren't saddened by the death of Ian Carr. As co-leader of the now legendary Emcee Five he helped tell the world that hard bop wasn't confined to New York, L.A. or even London but was also flourishing at the Down Beat Club in Carliol Square, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
To this day I still play the vinyl recordings they made back in the early 1960s and believe you me they have stood the test of time.
Ian also wrote what is possibly the definitive book on Miles Davis.
I later heard him with Nucleus and other jazz/rock/experimental groups but, for me, I'll always remember that Milesian (what better description is there!) sound of his horn as I climbed the stairs at Carliol Square nearly 50 years ago.
Lance

6 comments :

Anonymous said...

Hi Lance

Sad news but not entirely unexpected.I saw Ian Carr's Nucleus in,of all places,Wallsend.I'd have loved to have heard him play years earlier-I make do with LPs (those things before CD).

Russell

Lance said...

Wallsend? I guess that would be the Buddle Arts Centre - I seem to recall being there myself.
I also saw Ian Carr at Wallsend's Rising Sun pub. Band included Tony Coe, John Etheridge, John Stevens as well as our own Nigel and Germaine Stanger - quite aa night.

Anonymous said...

Sad news but what great memories.
Have a look on Ian's web site:- (see links.)

Anonymous said...

Hi Lance

Yes it was the Buddle-not many there I recall.The line-up included north-east guitarist Mark Wood.Years earlier I heard Wood in the bar of the then University Theatre.He could only have been in his teens-looking and sounding like Barney Kessel.At the Buddle his image and sound had changed.Hair,leather trousers and a contemporary playing style ideal for Carr's Nucleus.

Whatever happened to Wood ? Is he still around on the London scene ?
At the University Theatre did he ''sit in'' or was he part of a regular band ? I can't remember.

Russell

Anonymous said...

I remember Mark Wood as being quite an amazing young player. I think he was at the College and I vagually associate him with a band that included Joy Askew - was this the 'Friends of Jazz' I wonder?
Perhaps 'Dave the Rave' can tell us. Possibly Roly knows what became of Mark Wood?
I'm pretty sure he's still around the London scene.

Anonymous said...

There's a photo of Mark Wood on the Nucleus site. A 2005 reunion shot. He still looks young!

Blog Archive