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, March 31, 2013

Paul Edis/Slowlight Quartet @ The Bridge.

Paul Edis (solo piano).
(Review by Lance).
After weeks, nay months, even years trying to pack the upper room at The Bridge tonight it happened! I don't know if it was because it was Easter and in the "upper room" but the disciples packed the place out and, judging by the applause, there wasn't a Doubting Thomas amongst them!
Because of the crowd at the downstairs bar I missed the opening number but, Paul's version of My Favourite Things (with a nod towards Billy Evans) hit the spot. Nobody does Evans better than Edis and yet it's not a pastiche - rather a respectful acknowledgement of one of his influences.
Sunrise, a moody introspective original reminded me of the day, many years ago, when I drove down to South Shields to watch the sun coming over the horizon at about 4am. I don't think I've ever been awake at 4am since but Paul's piece brought it all back to me.
An adaptation of one of the Edis Sextet numbers - It's Behind You followed before we were on 52nd St. at 'Round Midnight, Paul added a new dimension to Monk's tune with some full rich chords that sustained the mood of what is, possibly, the most atmospheric composition in jazz.
Next up was an Easter Hymn - don't ask me - and Paul didn't tell us! Well it wasn't There is a Green Hill and it wasn't the lovely Easter Hymn from Cav so my guess is possibly JSB's Easter Chorale? I'm going to get shot down on this one!
The set finished with It Ain't Necessarily So. This had been one of the best solo piano sets I'd heard for a long time.
Chapeau! Paul.
----- 
The Slowlight Quartet: Tom Quilliam (ten/sop); Paul Lorraine (keys); Ian Paterson (bs); Jonathon Marriott (dms).
These guys had it all to do after such a strong opening set. To their credit, and bearing in mind this was possibly their first gig as a unit, they played well. Quilliam blows strong tenor and Ian, who seems to have acquired the nickname "Dodge" along the way, is among the front rank of north-east bassists whilst Lorraine and Marriott, although new names to me, know what they're doing.
Not quite sure how to define it - jazz/rock? jazz/fusion? Reminded me in places of The Yellowjackets or maybe a harder version of Spyro Giro. Whatever, this is a band to be bookmarked.
Didn't catch the full set as the number 27 was on the horizon but I look forward to hearing them again.
Lance.
at

1 comment :

Paul Edis (on Facebook) said...

Thanks Lance ! The Easter hymn was 'Lord of the Dance' by Sydney Carter. Enjoyed the SLQ.

Monday, April 01, 2013 12:17:00 AM

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