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

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Successful Book Launch. Blue Horizons - Take 2

As Roly pointed out, what Lance has been too modest to tell you about the book launch at the Lit & Phil is that he was the understudy for Alan Twelftree, and what an excellent job he did, even though his throat was not 100% well. Lance had taken the trouble to type up the piece from Alan’s writing so that it could be read out more easily. He read well with a few humorous additions of his own.
Margaret capably read out excerpts from the book and Russell was the sound man, providing musical illustrations as appropriate.
The music was good but you’ll have to ask more knowledgeable people than myself what the tracks were. They covered a wide range of jazz, from standard instrumentals to very recent items. Twenty copies of the book were sold, so Margaret and the lads must have done something right.
I was really glad to get my mitts on a copy of the book at last, and after having a quick scan, I’m really looking forward to reading it properly. There’s even a glossary of jazz terms, and some excellent photos, so that’s my bedtime reading sorted for a while.
The launch was also a pleasant social occasion, as a few of us from Chris’s Jazz Appreciation classes met each other again, and there was a chance to meet Chris’s wife Laura and the family, and also three of the five grandchildren.
Roll on Sunday, for all that excellent company and music!
Ann Alex.

3 comments :

Lance said...

Thank you Ann - the tracks were:
Sidney Bechet - Blue Horizons.
Maxine Sullivan - One Hundred Years From Today.
Lee Konitz/Warne Marsh - Star Eyes.
Jimmy Witherspoon - Corrine Corrina.
Steve Lacy Sextet - Gay Paree bop.
Al Grey/Jimmy Forrest - Out Dere.
Slim Galliard - Satin Doll.
Stan Tracey - Triple Celebration.
Jemeel Moondoc - Blues For Katie Part 2.
Duke Ellington - Amad.

Ann Alex said...

Thank you Lance, I remember some of them now. I loved the Jemeel Moondoc, and not just for the name.

Russell said...

Moondoc played the Corner House quite a few years ago. Ann, you should have been there.

Russell

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