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

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

R.I.P. Paul Gamblin

The north-east jazz world was stunned to learn that top guitarist Paul Gamblin had collapsed and died at the weekend - reportedly whilst playing rugby.
A brilliant guitarist and son of another brilliant guitarist, the late Eric Gamblin, Paul was a frequent attraction on the local scene often playing at Blaydon with various musicians and singers including Ruth Lambert and Bob Caswell.
Funeral details will be announced as soon as they are known.
Sadly missed.
Lance.
(Above photo by Eddie Carson)

10 comments :

Russell said...

Hi Lance

Whenever I heard Paul play he seemed to be an unassuming sort of bloke. He was a top class player and heard all too rarely in the north east.

Russell

Roly said...

Yes Paul was an absolutely lovely person of great integrity and always that quick witted humour.
And a great player with an advanced sense of harmony, a subtle approach to accompaniment and great soloing. A master of the bebop language in fact.
Its an utter shock this has happened.
Roly

Ruth said...

I am struggling to get my head around the fact that Paul has gone. We've lost a truly great guitarist and I have lost a good friend who will be sorely missed. My thoughts are with his family. What a wonderful man.
Ruth.

Django Bates said...

I was lucky to work with Paul Gamblin a lot in the eighties in Dudu Pukwana's band. With really long drives across Europe in a small van full of very fiery musicians, Paul was a huge boon to the band. He was equally focused on the gig, his beloved guitar, and on the band members' well-being. He was also uniquely able to soothe troubled waters when people got tired and stressed. I remember him driving at 90 mph straight through a huge and very solid bale of hay which had fallen into the fast lane of a German motorway, then quietly explaining, 'I wasn't sure it would work but bearing in mind the speed of surrounding traffic it was the safest option'. Paul was always friendly, dependable, and a gentleman.

Django Bates

Mal Maddock said...

I knew Paul (& his dad) from when I was a young teenager coming into the business...in Whitley Bay....He was so dedicated....We played many times together both in the North East , in London and abroad......When he moved to London it was a big decision .... & when I moved down we hooked up straight away.... I have many fond & funny memories.... he was a vegetarian & I always admired him for that ... Me not having the willpower ... But one night we went for a few pints..... & afterwards went for a takeaway curry, he ordered chicken curry.. & I said hold on I thought you were veggie ...."not when I am P****d I'm not" was his reply.......A great guy that will be missed........ My love to his familly Mal Maddock

Rod Sinclair said...

I worked with Paul in the 70s before he headed off to London and didn't meet up with him again till he turned up, 30+ yrs later, at the Maggie Bank .
He was still as fired up by music, full of enthusiasm and a zest for life. The news of his death is greeted with great sadness at the loss of a great player and inspirational human being. Rod

Eric Richards said...

I met Paul at college in Newcastle, shared a flat with him and Steve Creese in Maida Vale, toured Europe with him in Dudu Pukwana's band and did a UK tour with Gloria Gaynor with him and countless other gigs I guess. Last time I saw him was in Gelsenkirchen many, many years ago. I will always remember him for his ever-present enthusiasm,which just kept on bubbling over, be it for music or just life in general. Tragic that he had to go so soon. Shame we lost touch. He will be missed by his family and friends. My thoughts are with them at this sad time. Eric Richards

Eric Richards said...

I met Paul at college in Newcastle, shared a flat with him and Steve Creese in Maida Vale, toured Europe with him in Dudu Pukwana's band and did a UK tour with Gloria Gaynor with him and countless other gigs I guess. Last time I saw him was in Gelsenkirchen many, many years ago. I will always remember him for his ever present enthusiasm,which just kept on bubbling over, be it for music or just life in general. Tragic that he had to go so soon. Shame we lost touch. He will be missed by his family and friends. My thoughts are with them at this sad time. Eric Richards

Anonymous said...

Hi Lance,
I find this hard to take in, I did know Paul quite well and our paths did cross, I always used to ask his father Eric how he was doing, and I uesd to get the odd message from dad at windows, saying Paul had been in and was asking how I was doing, what a shame we lost touch, with us both working away. during our earlier years...
What very sad sad news, he must have only been around my age, maybe a bit younger, great musician, like his dad.

Colin Aitchison
Hong Kong

Anonymous said...

Paul was a great friend of mine during the years I lived in London. As a fellow Geordie, he helped me loads when I first moved there. I have just found out about this and am in a state of shock. God bless you Paul.

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