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

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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