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

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: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Northern Edge Coffee, Silver St., Berwick. 7:00pm.
Fri 30: Dan Coulthurst Quintet @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £10.00 + £1.00. bf (www.wegottickets.com). Coulthurst (trumpet); Joel Stedman (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: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.

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, November 11, 2009

The Boiler Room @ The Bridge Hotel. November 10th

Kettle Quartet: Matthew T. Forster (tenor sax), Dan Byrne - McCullough (guitar), Matt Browell (electric bass) & Chris Geehan (drums) & guests. Last night's session simmered nicely and on occasion threatened to boil over as the boys on the stand (where's the girls, guys?) worked up a head of steam running through a choice selection of tunes to a small but appreciative audience.
Tenor man Forster improvised impressively on 'I Got Rhythm', Byrne-McCullough knows his way around a Scofield tune and bass and drums kept the pan at boiling point visiting 'Autumn Leaves', 'Blue Bossa', 'Take the A Train' (Richard sitting in on guitar playing good Freddie Greene/ Wes Montgomery style), 'So What' and others.
A guest alto saxophonist joined the quartet and on the last number of the evening, Zawinul's 'Mercy, Mercy, Mercy' - alto and tenor weaved harmonic lines to great effect.
The Boiler Room is a good night out with the opportunity to support developing, promising musicians in much the same way as Dave Weisser has done for many a year with Take it to the Bridge. Hear the Kettle Quartet and friends Tuesdays throughout November. Russell

5 comments :

Lance said...

I was on my way there but couldn't get parked on the Quayside and couldn't get across the pedestrian area to get on to Dean Street because there were policeman with menaces.
After driving around for a minor eternity I gave up and went home.

Hannah 'the door girl' Lyons said...

.....I do believe there was one blonde female present last night!

Chris Geehan said...

Thanks for the kind words Russell! Though I always thought Dan looked a bit girly..

See you next Tuesday!

Russell said...

Hi Lance

Hey, Hannah I did notice you! 'Doing the door' is an important job - if there isn't anyone to take the money the musicians would never get their gig off the ground. In asking 'Where are the girls?' I did so in relation to the bandstand - full of blokes. Does Newcastle College produce any female musicians? If so, lets hear them!

Russell

Chris Geehan said...

The guy to girl ratio last night was rather balanced! And female performers were in the house as well! Alas none of them got up, but hopefully next week. Was the best night so far, plenty of people came, what a treat! Hope to see them and more next week! Tis the last before we go to sleep for Christmas holidays.

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