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

Monday, April 04, 2011

NeWt + 1 @ The Bridge.

Graeme Stephen (gtr); Chris Wallace (dms); Silke Eberhard (alt/clt); Chris Grieve (tmb/elect). A Splinter/Jazz North East/ On The Outside promotion that was in fact, for much of the time slightly on the inside! As with so many contemporary bands NeWt+1 begin with meandering, ethereal, overlong overtures that serve as a prelude to the nitty gritty which is a shame as when the preliminaries are over the main course is very nicely cooked indeed! Silke Eberhard unleashed some searing solos on alto that were quite phenomenal and it was worth sitting through the build-up just for that. Graeme Stephen too is a fine guitarist who impressed me immensely. I was a bit confused by the trombonist's role as, by some form of electronic chicanery, he became a bass player! Still it seemed to work. Good drummer. Interesting. I'd have liked to have heard Silke's clarinet playing but the number 27 bus beckoned... Photos. Lance.

4 comments :

russell said...

Just as that no.27 bus was at the bus stop the band played the best number of the night - A Safe, Just and Tolerant Society - with some scorching bop phrases. A while later Eberhard played great clarinet, drawing deserved applause at which the German beamed a smile.

Roly said...

What a unique little band.
And a great guitarist with his own distinct style.
They are certainly a bit different but that's what makes them stand out.
Very interesting stuff.
Roly

Greivsy said...

Thanks for the review. It can be a bit baffling seeinga trombone but hearing a bass line, the idea stems from my years trying to push the traditional role of the instrument but also pays homage to the "blown bass" role of the tailgate trombonists. I just use an octaver pedal which was enhanced on the night by Andy Champions beautiful bass amp.... i want one! Thanks for all the nice comments & hospitality. All the best - Chris (trb) @ NeWt (NeWtnet.co.uk)

George M said...

I'd like to post a tribute to the unifying force of Chris Wallace; his expressions, as he stared into that same ether Lance mentioned, reminded me of the great Brian Spring. His technique, he told me, was developed on the wide skied prairies of Saskatchewan where you can play against a passing grain or phosphate train for as long as it takes - great wheels on sound rails. I'd also like to say that NeWt's magic was for me based on their obvious sense of mutual joy and humour - I loved the performance and I won the Alister Spence 'fit' album yet again - this time for AC's birthday! God, I'm generous!!

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