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

Monday, November 07, 2011

John Mayall in Concert - Oli Brown Band @ The Sage, Gateshead.

John Mayall (vcl/hca/keys/gtr); Rocky Athos (gtr); Greg Rzab (bs); Jay Davenport (dms).
Hall One gave British Blues Legend John Mayall a warm welcome as he went into favourites past and present opening up with a solo on Another Man's Daughter. The grey-haired, pony-tailed veteran belied his years as he fired on harp, guitar and keyboard before bringing on the band.
And it was quite a band with Rocky Athos proving to be a worthy successor to some of Mayall's previous guitar heroes such as Clapton, Peter Green and Mick Taylor. Greg Rzab had a long time to wait for his feature but cometh the hour cometh the man and he had an almighty blast on Room to Move. Jay Davenport also had a late feature but it was his hypnotic train rhythm on so many numbers that showed his worth.
And what about the old man himself? - He's still got it. Parchman Farm from the back catalogue never fails to score but Song of Something and Tough Times Ahead from his latest album, Tough, showed he is still ahead of the game.
Oli Brown (gtr.vcl); Ron Sayer (bs); Wayne Proctor (dms).
Earlier, the Oli Brown Band kicked things off. Brown, described by MOJO magazine as "the hottest young pistol in British Blues" lived up to his reputation with some heavy metal thrashes bringing to mind Cream and various blues/rock bands. He's got the technique and the vocal chops so watch this space - he's a kid who's arriving fast.
During the interval I popped my head around the corner where Lindsay Hannon's vocal protégées were strutting their stuff including a certain correspondent of this blog who sang, quite charmingly, Every Time We Say Goodbye
Lance.

2 comments :

Anonymous said...

Lance, Thanks for the mention.
From 'she who sings charmingly'

Lance said...

Col. you are correct of course. Mama Talk to Your Daughter, which came later, somehow got confused with Another Man Done Gone or maybe it was the pre-concert visit to the Central Bar!

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