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

Friday, July 31, 2009

Marshall Walker R.I.P.

(Sunday)I've just received the very sad news that my friend and former musical colleague, drummer Marshall Walker, died on Friday July 24. Cause of death is, as yet, unknown.
More details when known.
Sadly missed.
Lance.
(Thursday)The funeral will take place at noon on Monday August 3 at Birtley Crematorium. A formal announcement will be made in tonight's (Thursday) Evening Chronicle.
Photos - I've added a few. If you have more please send them to me via Email (lanceliddle@gmail.com.)
Add your personal tributes to the comments below.

8 comments :

Roly said...

Sad news. I have very fond memories of the early years at Blaydon with Marshall, Clem, Bill Smith and best ever landlady Pauline. It's when you look back at those times you realise how special they were.
Roly

Eric.M.Stutt said...

Very sad to hear about Marshy he was a good friend and I liked him and his sense of humour a lot. He wil be sadly missed.
Eric.

Russell said...

Hi Lance

I liked Marshall's dry sense of humour, hang-dog look (Buster Keaton-like) and he could play.

Russell

John Taylor said...

Sorry to hear of the passing of Marshal Walker. A character in the same mould as Derek Dixon (another old timer who is sadly no longer with us).Both unassuming accompanists who were always there for the rest of the band.

laurie brown said...

sorry to hear this Marshall was a
frequent visitor to the Porthole
at one time!

Mike Gilby said...

Fond memories of Marshall - R.I.P. Many a laugh we shared together, another great character exits the bandstand.
Mike.

Germaine said...

So sorry to hear that yet another of the Newcastle musical gang has gone.It's many years since I met Marshall but I remember him as one of the fixtures of the early days.

Anonymous said...

As a kid, I used to see Marshall with The Ronnie MaClean All Stars at The New Orleans Jazz Club Forth Banks, in the band at that time was, Hughie Aitchison (Tpt) Ronnie MaClean (Tbn) Trevor Johnson (Reeds) Brian Fisher (Piano) Tom !!!!!! (Bass) & Marshall Walker (Drums), and as a page boy at the Swallow Hotel I ued to help him put his kit in the lift, when he was playing with the Jimmy Miller Trio, on my trips back to Newcastle, he used to remind me of those days at the hotel, a fine drummer, he will be very much missed on the North East Jazz Scene...

Colin Aitchison
Hong Kong

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