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

18219 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 73 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 24), 73

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Fri 30: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 30: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 30: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 30: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 30: Pete Roth Trio @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). Feat. Bill Bruford.
Fri 30: Jive Aces @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm.
Fri 30: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Northern Edge Coffee, Silver St., Berwick. 7:00pm.
Fri 30: Dan Coulthurst Quintet @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £10.00 + £1.00. bf (www.wegottickets.com). Coulthurst (trumpet); Joel Steadman (bass clarinet, flute); Nico Widdowson (piano); Fergus Quill (double bass); Theo Goss (drums).

Sat 31: Darling Dollies @ St George’s Church, Jesmond, Newcastle. 3:00pm. £10.00. Vocal trio.
Sat 31: Brass Fiesta @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 10:30pm. Free.

FEBRUARY 2026

Sun 01: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 01: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Quintet + guest Bill Watson (trumpet, flugelhorn).
Sun 01: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: Annie & the Caldwells @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £25.00. adv. Gospel/soul.
Sun 01: Jive Aces @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm.
Sun 01: Olly Styles Experience + Jenny Baker @ the Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 02: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 02: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

Tue 03: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 03: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

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.

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, April 22, 2013

Sue Ferris/James Birkett Quartet, Roly Veitch. Black Bull, Blaydon April 21.


Sue Ferris (tenor sax & flute), James Birkett (gtr), Neil Harland (bass), Dave Francis (dms), Roly Veitch (gtr & voc)
(Review by Ray Robson)
This was our first visit to Roly's "new" Blaydon venue of the Black Bull - an excellent full house of over 50 packed the back room creating that more intimate "jazz" atmosphere we all crave, albeit without the drifting smoke a la 1960's jazz club's. A good local pint went down well too!
Sue's visit in March had been lost due to the snow of our first days of Spring, but thankfully she made it safely this time.....she led the line marvelously, showing a delicate touch to make each track a joy. The talents of the JB quartet are well known, tonight they fitted seamlessly to give superb backing.
The opener of Don't Get Around Much Anymore set the scene I thought, with excellent sax work but sooooo melodic rhythm work. On the Sunny Side of the Street, Blue Monk, My Romance followed....then Manha de Carnaval from the film Black Orpheus featured Sue on Flute. The Billie Holiday number You're a Lucky Guy preceded All of Me & took us to the break.
The second set opened with an electric guitar duet with James & Roly, then back with the full band for Sonny Rollins' Doxy, before You Brought a New Kind of Love to Me & A Nightingale sang in Berkley Square.
The classic Clifford Brown track Sandu illustrated what a loss his early death in the 1950's was. Next was the 1944 Jack Teagarden number Stars Fell on Alabama. Then It can Happen to You took us to the final number - Jerome Kern's jazz standard All the Things You Are.
Credit is due to Roly for continuing with the Blaydon Jazz Club, & to The Black Bull's managers Carl & Jackie for making us all so welcome - everyone had a great evening, & I'm sure the support will continue for these Sunday night monthly sessions (next session 19th May Jeremy McMurray quartet).
Ray Robson
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1 comment :

c.mckeon@yahoo,co.uk said...

yes lance i was there last night .great gig/venue for blaydon jazz c/o roly veithch full house too more of the same next motnth and jhango rhinhearts music in june/july gigs to look forward too. regards Chris from jes /ncle

Monday, April 22, 2013 6:33:00 pm

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