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

18246 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 100 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 31), 100

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

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.

Fri 06: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 06: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 06: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 06: Durham Alumni Big Band & Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn Theatre. 7:30pm. £12.00. Two big bands on stage together!
Fri 06: Nauta + Littlewood Trio @ Little Buildings, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Double bill + jam session.
Fri 06: FILM: Made in America @ Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Ornette Coleman.
Fri 06: Deep Six Blues @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.

Sat 07: The Big Easy @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club.
Sat 07: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30-3:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 07: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. St Thomas & Bésame Mucho. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 07: Side Cafe Oᴙkestar @ Café Under the Spire, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Table reservations: 0191 477 3970.
Sat 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 08: Swing Tyne @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12 noon (doors). Donations. Swing dance taster class (12:30pm) + Hot Club de Heaton (live performance). Non dancers welcome.
Sun 08: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: Gerry Richardson’s Big Idea @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 09: Mark Williams Trio @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 09: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 10: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

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

Saturday, November 20, 2010

My Heart Belongs to Darlo! PAUL EDIS SEXTET at OPUS 4 JAZZ CLUB (The Travellers’ Rest, Darlington)

Paul Edis (piano), Mick Shoulder (bass), Adam Sinclair (drums), Chris Hibbard (trombone), Graham Hardy (trumpet/flugel), and Graeme Wilson (sax) Our first time at Opus 4 and what a great atmosphere: a friendly welcome; a big room well-populated with people who know their jazz; a half-time raffle; massive photos of jazz greats looking down approvingly from the walls and (a final attraction?) cask “Magnet” on in the bar! And then there’s the music…. The band’s talent as arrangers was showcased by the opening My Heart Belongs to Daddy (arr Mick Shoulder) which was followed by Graham Wilson arrangements of Autumn in New York and Una Poca Loca. Later it was back to Mick for his arrangement of Softly – as in a Morning Sunrise, during which he worked up a sweat on one of the best received solos of the evening. Elsewhere, Chris Hibbard featured prominently on Being With You and the beautiful Black Orpheus and the band as a whole (their talent as musicians was showcased all night!) did justice to In a Sentimental Mood and Out of Nowhere. There was a lot of fresh material tonight – at least four originals from Paul getting a first airing, as far as I know. Dedicated to jobsworths the world over, the “New Orleansy” (Paul’s words) Administrate This! featured pumped up bass from Mick, a muted trumpet solo from Graeme, and Adam being turned loose near the end to shake the windows and rattle our brains! Put a Lid On It was “Monk inspired” and, after a quirky piano intro, featured solos from Graham, Graeme and Paul. The “African influenced” Sharp 9/8 (sorry, Paul if I heard that wrong!) was infectiously rhythmic with outstanding drumming from Adam throughout and a scorching solo from Graham Wilson. The final number, Blues for Dad, gave everyone a chance to strut their stuff and ended with cries of “more!” which were rewarded with a “kamikaze” blast of Graham Wilson’s Up Late by way of an encore. WOW! Not sure what the Shadows were on about all those years ago with Stars Fell on Stockton – if it’s jazz you want, go to Darlo!

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