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

Friday, February 03, 2012

CD Review: Various Artists - Spiritual Jazz 2: Europe


This is a very moving disc - although not a Spiritual person myself I feel the power of the music coming through. The blurb is right when it describes this as A heady mix indeed, stirring jazz overtures with orchestra and choir, festival performances recorded live from the grassy heartlands of central Europe, modal montages inspired by pilgrimages to Asia and Africa, experiments in rhythm and sound where modern jazz meets traditional Balkan and Flamenco folk music. 
The track listing is indicative of just how European this music is with Michael Garrick representing the UK and other familiar names such as Dusko Goykovic, Albert Mangelsdorf, Barney Wilen and Hans Dulfer also reaching out to give their country a say. It is varied yet still compelling without straying too far from the contemporary scene and I don't think there is one track I would veto although the Dulfer one was borderline!
Spiritual Jazz – European style, brought to you by the ever impressive Jazzman Records, run by (Jazzman) Gerald Short in London who is to be commended for producing such a rare collection.. It will be available from Monday 6 February on CD and also 2xLP (180g/gatefold). Each track has been digitally restored from the original master tapes, and the release features comprehensive liner notes with individual notes on each track with original stories direct from the musicians and artists. Most of these tracks have never before been reissued – previously only available on rare LPs that change hands for mega bucks.
Tracklisting:
01. Erich Kleinschuster Sextett - Communion [Austria]
02. Albert Manglesdorf Quintet - Varie [Germany]
03. Michael Garrick Sextet - Temple Dancer [UK]
04. Raphael - Archangelo [Belgium]
05. Barney Wilen - Africa Freakout [France]
06. Nicolai Gromin - Corrida [Czechoslovakia]
07. Heikki Sarmanto - Duke and Trane [Finland]
08. Wroblewski Jazz Quintet - Nana Imboro [Poland]
09. Dusko Goykovic - Bosna Calling [Yugoslavia]
10. Pedro Iturralde - Las Morillas de Jaen [Spain]
11. Hans Dulfer & Ritmo-Natural - Candy Clouds (Part II) [Holland]
Lance.

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