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

Monday, December 17, 2012

Lindsay Hannon Plus/Jam Session @ Splinter @ The Bridge. Sunday December 16.

Lindsay Hannon (vcl); James Harrison (pno); John Pope (bs); Mark Robertson (dms) + Paul Gowland (ten); Graham Hardy (tpt), Gabriele Heller, Keiran, Belinda Voshtina, Zoe Gilby, Dave Weisser (vcl).
(Review by Lance.)
It was free entry for the end of season jam and, as such, the room was full although it has to be said most folk seemed  to be donating generously.
The new line-up of Lindsay Hannon Plus got the ball rolling with The Doors' I Am a Spy. After some initial hesitancy new pianist James Harrison slotted in fine. James always looks as if he is having the time of his life and he probably is.  So Long Big Time and The End of a Love Affair followed before Paul Gowland joined them for The Very Thought of You.
Paul was in good form. Lullaby of Birdland showed off all five to advantage.
Lindsay took a well-earned breather and Graham Hardy stepped up to join Paul for a blistering I'll Remember April. I may not remember April but I'll certainly remember this! Graham's trumpet solo was almost saxophonic in its long flowing lines, Paul matched him and James managed to slot in a quote from Royal Garden Blues. John Pope too had humorous moments during his prodigious bass solo whilst Mark kicked seven shades out of the kit in the exchange of 4's and 8's with Paul.
Interval time.
High Level Bitter was tonight's chosen brew and it went down well with the delights on stage.
The second set saw Gabby open up with (not so) Softly as in a Morning Sunrise complete with scat chorus. Over the past couple of years her voice and stage presence have reached a stage where she can command an audience's rapt attention. Apart from Gabby, Paul blew an emotive solo on Good Morning Heartache.
Tonight was starting to look like a late Gig of the Year contender!
A young man, Keiron, was next. Totally unaccompanied he sang the verse to a well known standard but what was it?
This day and age we’re living in
Gives cause for apprehension
With speed and new invention
And things like Third Dimension
Yet we get a trifle weary
Of Mr. Einstein’s theory
So we must get down to earth at times
Relax relieve the tension.
No matter what the progress
Or what may yet be proved
The simple facts of life are such
They cannot be removed…
You must remember this...
As Time Goes By. Sung beautifully.
Graham and Paul worked out on Cherokee at tempo de lick then another tender moment.
Belinda Voshtina sang When Sunny Gets Blue accompanied only by James on keyboard. I prayed nobody would drop a pin - it would have been deafening.
Nobody did although the applause at the end showed the audience's approval.
Zoe did the business on You'd be so Nice to Come Home to followed by BSH's latest reviewer Dave Weisser who, sans trumpet, sang I Love The Life I Live - excellent.
As I left for the number 27, Lindsay was taking off on Caravan.
It had been quite a night!
Lance.

2 comments :

Lance said...

PS: I should have also mentioned that Lindsay was fantastic!

Bill and Maureen said...

What a great night out it was at the Bridge last night. Hope the people who organized it get a big thank you, especially Zoe.

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