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: 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

Monday, May 23, 2011

Marianne Faithfull @ The Sage, Gateshead.

Marianne Faithfull (vcl); acc. by Kate St.John (keys, alt, cor anglais, acc. etc); Rory McFarlane (bs); Martin Bark? (dms); Don Pedigo (gtr); Wayne Kramer (gtr).
I wasn't sure what to expect - I knew there wouldn't be any jazz although, paradoxically, the background music in between sets was Creole Love Call and Prelude To A Kiss.
A lot of the material was from Marianne's latest CD - Horses and High Heels and she did indeed open with the title track.
She's entertaining and the half filled Level One, Hall One, loved her as, with complete disregard to today's PC culture she bonded with them by having a cigarette on stage!
The band were, not surprisingly, honed in Stones/'60s blasts with Ms Faithfull doing things to Johnn Lennon's Working Class Man, Dusty Springfield's Goin' Back, Back in my Baby's Arms Again. The voice may have sunk deeper and the range somewhat narrow but, nevertheless, Marianne seems to be in her comfort zone with the material. It was an impressive performance.
Earlier, support act, Gabby Young (pictured with ?) displayed no range limitations - her comfort zone is of operatic proportions! Billed as Gabby Young and Other Animals it was somewhat disturbing that she brought only 1 other animal - a guitarist (pictured left) whose name I missed. Presumably the other animals were in quarantine. This was a shame as I was looking forward to hearing the eight piece which includes trumpet, trombone and clarinet. Nevertheless Gabby gave a polished performance of original material and I look forward to hearing her again with the full band.
Lance.

2 comments :

Anonymous said...

I was wondering if Johnn Lennon's 'Working Class Man' was the polite version of John Lennon's 'Working Class Hero'?

JC

Lance said...

My apologies - it was at the end of the night
'Hero' is right,
And it wasn't polite
I'll end the rhyme now...

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