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

Saturday, July 21, 2012

The Puppini Sisters @ The Americana Festival, The Sage, Gateshead.

Marcello Puppini, Stephanie O'Brien, Kate Mullins (The "Puppini Sisters"); Blake Wilner (gtr); Henrik Jensen (bs); Pete? (dms).
Irrespective of what's been and what's to come - This Was It! 
Immaculately gowned and coiffured, the girls gave a stunning performance that, for me, was absolutely outstanding. 
The opener, Bei Mir Bist Du Schon, was inspired by - and possibly even eclipsed - the original Andrews Sisters version. That's how good it was. Was I In Love? (that was the tune's title and also the question I posed myself as these three lovely ladies strutted their stuff), Mr. Sandman (a fifties hit for The Chordettes) led to a take on Kay Starr's version of Side By Side. Kay did a multi track duet with herself back then and the girls simulated it superbly.
It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing - the first show-stopper.. The inspiration this time was provided by the greatest of all the early girl groups - The Boswell Sisters. If Connie Boswell had been around to hear this I swear she'd have leapt out of her wheelchair and joined in. Changes of mood and tempo plus snatches of Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby and Mambo Italiano made this something else!
I Feel Pretty and True Love eased the way for another Boswellian epic - Heebie Jeedbies. Was this the closer? No we had Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy From Company B as an encore. Wow! this was another classic. These girls don't just sing - they move and how! They can shake their butts better than almost anyone I know.
The accompanying group were absolutely right on the money and the girls themselves had some instrumental moments with Marcello playing accordion, Kate, glockenspiel and melodica and Stephanie, flute.
Next time let's have them back as headliners.
Lance.

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