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 04, 2009

Laurie Holloway Trio @ Leeds College of Music.

Laurie Holloway (pno), Dave Olney (bs), Harold Fisher (dms).
We kicked off with short filmed clips of Laurie accompanying just about everybody who was anybody ...Garland, Ella, Sammy Khan, Grappelli, & many more. Then on stage they came, smartly dressed in dark suits, diagonally striped ties, crisp shirts, and we just knew we were in for a feast of great music.
This modest, unassuming smiling man , at the top of his profession, was simply the best. His musicians were an absolute knockout, the bass player just wowed us with talent & the drummer attacked & caressed with joy.
There was indeed something for everyone in this stylish venue at Leeds College of Music, and with Laurie confessing that they were big on medleys, on this occasion, medleys we got!! Lionel Bart - In earlier years, Laurie toured with Antony Newley doing Bart numbers - Burt Bacharach, being described by Laurie as a modern day George Gershwin, Beatles (yes he thought there was a place for them) and more. Yet again I was drawn to the Latin, & Jobim's " Wave" was to me the epitome of lush life on sandy beaches & romance, you could smell the ocean!!
We heard a spirited "Cute" and he encored with a touching mention of his "lovely Marion (Montgomery)" who would always, he said, end with the Saints...so he did.
Liz.
Afterthoughts; My God that bass player was something else...he looked a bit like Roy Castle by the way. Before the show, as we were early we got chatting to the manager of "The Venue", (LCM) Colin. He was a drummer as well, & had lived in Newcastle for some years. Naturally, we told him about "Bebop Spoken Here" - he seemed genuinely interested.
at

1 comment :

Lance said...

Thanks Liz, A very emotive and descriptive review.
Leeds College has been the launching pad for so many up and coming musicians, tutors and jazz in general as well as showing support to established names like Laurie Holloway.
Long may they continue.
PS: I hope the binmen's strike didn't mar your enjoyment!

Wednesday, November 04, 2009 2:46:00 pm

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