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

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Tasty Chilli Jam Tonight.

Dave Weisser (tpt/vcl), Darren Grainger (ten), Nicola Weaver (alt), Judith ? (vln), Mark Williams (gtr), Barry Ashcroft (bs), Eric Stutt (dms) + Scotty Adair (dms).
Magic in the air tonight! Don't ask me why I'm playing a cassette of James Moody, recorded at some long gone Newcastle Jazz Festival, on the car stereo. Pure chance.
Okay; so maybe my car isn't cool enough to play CDs but nor is it old enough to pass Go and claim £2000. Anyhow, I'm driving along in my automobile - no baby beside me at the wheel (Chuck Berry lyric) and listening to this tape which, as well as Moody, has our boy Scotty Adair on drums. A fine drummer - never seen him for years.
Guess who walks into the Chilli tonight? Bingo! Scott Adair!
After giving him time to almost taste his pint, Scott's whisked to the stage for a blast on "Anthropology" - he's still got it.
Other moments tonight include Judith, a swing fiddler, who gives "Love For Sale" a work out as well as "Stella By Starlight" and "Stolen Moments" (from Oliver Nelson's "Blues and the Abstract Truth") the last and possibly the best number of the night.
Dave's in scintillating form over the mic - blowing good too.
Truth is, everyone's wailing well tonight. Darren; some powerful tenor, Nicola; elegant on alto and Eric; ever ready to go along with the strange twists and turns the numbers occasionally take. On guitar, Mark compensates for the lack of a keyboard - Barry is on bass hence no piano - with solid chordwork as well as, naturally, some mind blowing solos. Barry too does the biz on bass. Next week, it's BUDVIVAR shooting for the Moon and Tim, artist in residence, has eyes to screen a slide show of his musically inspired creations on the backwall behind Dave and the gang as they perform their own artistry. Get there early folks - it could be an audio/visual experience you'll want to tell to your grandchildren ...
Lance.

1 comment :

Scott Adair said...

Web site is great, congratulations! My heart strings are pulling after seeing so many of the talented people I was privileged to work with over the years.The sad part is I have lost a lot of great musician pals who are bebopping up there somewhere! MALCOLM SAUL, SID WARREN, NIGEL STANGER, ARTHUR MOWAT, DEREK DIXON, RONNIE PEARSON, and so many more. But, looking on the bright side, none of these will ever be overlooked because of the wonderful chronicle you have put together. FANTASTIC and once again TOP MAN!
The great news for me is there are a lot of talented players and singers around to support and listen to and to play with if I ever get the chance.
Thanks once again for the mention in last night's blog Lance. BIT SPOOKY ABOUT THE JAMES MOODY BIT THOUGH.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
Scott

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