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

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: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Northern Edge Coffee, Silver St., Berwick. 7:00pm.
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: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.

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, December 10, 2011

Mine's Santa Baby what's yours?

What's your favourite Christmas Song? I kinda like Santa Baby although the MJQ's God Rest You Merry Gentlemen isn't bad either.
Interesting to hear what others think.
Lance.
PS: Ann - here's a jazz(ish) version of Bleak Midwinter.

9 comments :

Roly said...

Royal Roost NYC 25th Dec 1948
Parker/Dorham/Haig/Potter/Roach playing White Christmas.
Roly

Liz said...

I like "Have yourself a very merry Christmas"
Liz

Andrea Picton (On Facebook). said...

I have two that I love, Santa Baby (snap) - Eartha Kitt ......... and David Bowie and Bing - Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy

Steve Andrews (on Facebook). said...

I have two all-time christmas favourites: "Swingin' Them Jingle Bells" by Fats Waller - pure joyful swing - and "Santa's Secret" by Slam Stewart and Johnny Guarnieri, which is totally hilarious. Either one will cheer you up and banish dark thoughts of the bloody Metro Centre/Eldon Square etc., etc........

Anonymous said...

I think mine should have read "have yourself a merry little Christmas" the webmaster will know!
Liz

Lance said...

You are absolutely correct - my fault for trying to be Mr Knowall!

Ann Alexander said...

lilI don't know enough about jazz christmas songs, but I love the carol 'In the Bleak Midwinter', so I'll vote for that if someone can come up with a jazz version. How about it, all you local bands?
Ann Alex

Lance said...

Not a local band Ann but this solo piano version by Ken Middleton on YouTube isn't bad at all.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5wPFnp401s

Ann Alexander said...

Thank you Lance for that version of 'In the Bleak Midwinter', which was really good to listen to, and I think it could be called jazz. The words of the carol are worth reading, written of course by Victorian poet Christina Rossetti, who was a strange woman who rejected 3 marriage proposals on religious grounds. You really wanted to know that! Ann

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