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: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. St Thomas & Bésame Mucho. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 07: Side Cafe Oᴙkestar @ Café Under the Spire, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Table reservations: 0191 477 3970.
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, May 26, 2013

Claire Martin, Joe Stilgoe, Mark McGann, Northern Sinfonia Pay Tribute to Lennon and McCartney @ Sage Gateshead.

Northern Sinfonia; Claire Martin: Joe Stilgoe; Mark McGann.
In my defence, your 'onour, every gig I've ever  been to in 'all One began at 7:30pm. Them as is in 'all Two do their thing at 8pm. So, tonight, my old mucker Andy 'udson and me strolled down to Sage Gateshead with an independent air only to have our sanguineti desanguetinesed when we were informed the concert had begun at 7pm!
7pm! I know folk who aren't even out of bed at that hour! But, c'est la vie. 
I don't know what we missed but what we didn't miss was good.
Mark McGann (famous Liverpool background) sang I Should Have Known Better and few could have sung it  better! Stilgoe did one of the best Beatle tunes - Here There and Everywhere. That is class!
Claire Martin - and she was the big attraction for me - did a beautiful and emotive version of A Ticket to Ride. - I'd have bought a ticket for that trip! Yesterday had Claire making me wish I'd met her Yesterday!
The set finished with all three singing All You Need Is Love which, upon reflection, is about right!
The Northern Sinfonia were as professional as they always are but the silky smooth string section were sheer perfection. By comparison, the brass read the parts but didn't quite achieve the empathy that the strings did.
Second set - Claire's reading of Eleanor Rigby was possibly the highlight of this set although the magnificent line from Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds - the girl with kaleidoscope eyes - reminded us that these two scousers were songwriters to be ranked alongside the best.
Claire's Fool on the Hill rubber stamped their credentials.
It was a good concert - no jazz but I didn't expect any. Loved Claire, Joe I'd like to catch on a piano/vocal jazz gig. McGann - love to meet his tailor!
Lance.

2 comments :

Anonymous said...

The first song you list says it all really - Check your tickets!!

It's really annoying when audience members pile out of the pub and saunter into a Sage gig late. The Sage seem to be on top of this now and at least limit late entrants to a gap in the performance.

Lance said...

I couldn't agree more! I should have checked the times. The last thing I wanted was to not see the whole show.

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