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

Saturday, September 07, 2013

CD Review: Ollie Howell - Sutures and Stitches.

Ollie Howell (dms); Duncan Eagles (ten); Mark Perry (tpt); Matt Robinson (pno); Max Luthert (bs).
(Review by Lance)
Recorded in London, mixed in New York, this is an absolute gem of an album. Contemporary Blue Note exactly where I want my modern jazz to be!
Howell's drumming lives up to Quincy Jones remark - "An unbelievable drummer. So creative I couldn't believe it. This kid really is a 360 degree beautiful young cat that I believe has what it takes to make a life out of music."
Jimmy Cobb said, "He's loaded with talent!"
The masters have spoken and I'm not going to disagree!
What they haven't commented on is the band he's leading. Believe you me they too deserve the above accolades. Eagles is a fine blustery tenor player who could/should have been a Jazz Messenger. As it is, Eagles' work with his trio Partikel has brought him to the attention of the aficionados - this disc should draw further attention to a player who can make a happy marriage out of lyricism and aggression.
Mark Perry - plaintive, pleading, a soul crying out to be heard just as Chet and Miles often were, can also howl (Howell?) like a bebop banshee. Blakey would have snapped him up too!
Luthert is also a member of Partikel so the rapport between Eagles and himself is no surprise.
On piano Matt Robinson, a recent graduate of RAM, is rapidly making his presence felt on the UK scene.
With the exception of Dear Old Stockholm - that traditional Swedish folk song so beloved of the '50s Swedes (and Stan Getz) - Howell wrote all the compositions on this dynamic CD. 
That Howell wrote this music whilst undergoing an incredible journey of diagnosis, neuro surgeries and recoveries, which may have suggested the title of the album, is not only incredible in itself  but perhaps makes a case for the power of music over infirmity.
Ollie Howell - Sutures and Stitches is available on Whirlwind WR4636 from Sept. 23. the CD launch is at King's Place, London  on October 10. 
An extensive tour includes a Splinter gig at The Bridge Hotel, Newcastle on Sunday November 24.
Put it in your diary - it's already in mine!
Lance.
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