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: 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

Saturday, June 06, 2009

Steve Waterman's Ten Piece Project @ Saltburn Community Hall. (Friday June 5.)

Steve Waterman (trumpet & flugel horn), Noel Dennis (trumpet), Sue Ferris (baritone sax), Graeme Wilson (tenor sax), Rod Mason (alto sax), Chris Hibbard (trombone), Keith Norris (trombone), Paul Edis (piano), Andy Champion (double bass & electric bass), Adrian Tilbrook (drums).
The Victoria pub just down the road from the Community Hall was, I thought, just the place to sit and have a pre - gig pint and escape the falling rain in Saltburn...ten musicians had already hit on the same idea ! So, a pint of Skelton's IPA it was. A glance at Cleveland's '' Evening Gazette '' and it was time to stroll up to the venue. Well before the advertised kick - off the place was packed to the rafters - I think they knew they were onto a good thing.
Waterman's Ten Piece Project was assembled to play the music of some of the trumpet maestro's favourite composers. We were treated to an evening of tunes by Tadd Dameron (''Our Delight'', ''Good Bait'', ''Lady Bird''), Benny Golson (''Killer Joe''), Herbie Hancock (''Watermelon Man'', ''Chameleon'', ''Cantaloupe Island'') and others.
''Our Delight '' opened with Waterman and Ferris in unison; the other frontliners (all five of 'em!) joined in and the ace rhythm section stoked it up. Waterman afforded solos to all in the ensemble throughout the two sets; it was very much a collaborative evening of music making.
Solo after solo proved to be a highlight - Adrian Tilbrook (a master percussionist of the larger ensemble) took a superb solo, as did Andy Champion, Graeme Wilson, Rod Mason, Noel Dennis...the list goes on. Waterman's own composition ''Destination Unknown '' demonstrated his top - drawer technique. The band dealt with ease anything and everything thrown at them, not least the rhythm section playing ''Chameleon'' as the frontline played '' Watermelon Man'' - it worked!
A great gig at a nice venue with a bottle of Fuller's ''London Pride'' at hand. Perfect.
This evening's concert was presented by Saltburn Arts in association with Jazz Action and Geneva Trumpets. Geneva Trumpets are hand made in nearby Skelton by Tim Oldroyd. Messrs. Waterman and Dennis are but two of his clients.
Russell .

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