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

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Krzysztof Urbanski @ The Bridge

Krzysztof Urbanski (alt/pno); John Pope (bs); Dave McKeague (dms).
(Review by Lance.)
Back in the 1960s a Polish modern jazz quartet led by Zbigniew Namyslowski played a memorable session at the old New Orleans Club on Forth Banks. That was a night that subsequently became legendary and the class of the Polish jazzmen can be heard on the very rare LP recorded around that time - Lola.
Despite this and since then, Polish jazz musicians haven't been at the top of my listening lists.
Tonight all that changed! Tonight may well also become the stuff of legend!
Krzysztof Urbanski, a Polish tenor/alto man, blew some wonderful music that thrilled the pathetically under-subscribed room. What's wrong with you guys/gals who call yourself fans? This was sax playing at its best and you missed it! 
Why weren't you all there?
However, 'Tis Autumn in Newcastle and I'm sure the excuses will be made...
So what you lot missed was the  big, pure sound and the awesome technique that led into On Green Dolphin St. The blues tribute to Billie Holiday that sounded a little like Goodbye. Tenor playing of the first order.
All The Things You Are and the most wonderful version of Sophisticated Lady this side of Ellington were just some of the numbers that helped to make this the night that it was. Urbanski also blew some sizzling alto that fanned the flames and kept the fire burning.
Behind him, John Pope was his usual tower of strength shouldering the burden of providing the harmonic foundation admirably and full marks to Splinter for providing him with the facility to host tonight's session. On drums, McKeague,  a little tentative at first, did what was necessary and the overall feel amongst the few listeners present was one of sheer enjoyment.
This young Polish saxman, who is currently based in Thirsk, is surely going places!
Tremendous !
Lance.

1 comment :

Lance said...

I left the Bridge on a high last night but was soon on a low when I tripped and fell over a raised paving stone! A visit to A and E this morning revealed nothing broken - still bloody painful though.

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