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

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Hannabiell @ The Star Inn, Newcastle.

Hannabiell Sanders (Percussion/Bs. tmb); Yilis Del Carmen Suriel (Percussion); Matthew Ross (congas); Paul Ruddick (alto) + Chris Finch (flugel); Kevin Eland (trumpet).
(Review by Lance)
Hannabiell took to the stage and the set at last began. The formula is simple. Ms. H attacks the djembes (?) with her palms gradually building up the tension till it seems unbearable then, just when you thought it safe to check your heart monitor up steps Yilis Del Carmen Suriel to join Hannabiel and the duo raise the pulse rate even higher - smacking and beating the skins with hypnotic cross rhythms - flailing away like a pair possessed.
But they're not over yet! Up jumps Matthew Ross reporting for conga duty. The trio lift the game to another level. Six hands in rhythmic harmony producing a kaleidophonic mix of sound interspersed with H's samba whistle. This is carnival time in Brazil except it's in a pub on Westgate Road in Newcastle.
Enter Paul Ruddick who unleashes a searing alto solo that floats above the rhythm - an eagle in full flight. Paul's up there - way up in altoland we need something to counteract that!
Bass trombone is the answer.
Hannabiel puts the gleaming monster to her lips and we're in Subterranea. The sound is deep, the tone is the roundest trombone tone you've ever heard  She blows it, she waves the instrument as she plays, never missing a beat. Ruddick comes back for more and they take it to the limit then stop. Silence - the audience are briefly dumbstruck before the appreciation is shown with whoops and hollers, whistles and woo-hoos.
We liked it.
The second number, which was also the last, followed suit and the break allowed us to stem the adrenalin flow.
Not for long though!
The band returned to the stage for the jam which had Chris Finch on flugel horn and Kevin Eland on stratospheric trumpet and once again the adrenalin flowed.
It had been quite a night.
Catch Hannabiell and Midnight Blue as part of the Green Festival at Leazes Park, Newcastle, on Sunday (2.30pm)
Photos.
Lance..

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