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

Sunday, September 08, 2013

Splinter @ The Bridge Jam Session

Alan Law (pno); John Pope (bs); Jonathan Myatt (dms) + a cast of thousands.
(Review by Lance)
I remember some years ago at a musical instrument trade fair in London enjoying listening to an afternoon jam session. It was pleasant enough until a black guy sat in on drums. He was some drummer. "Somebody said, "He's playing with Dizzy at Ronnie's." I replied "Sorry mate but Dizzy's drummer is so and so and he's a white guy." My acquaintance replied "He's not Dizzy's drummer - he's the bass player!"
We had a similar situation tonight when Andy Champion sat behind the kit for Mr PC. - Andy may be ace on bass but he's also pretty fit on kit!
Possibly the best number of the night It could have been re-named Mr PG after Paul Gowland's opening blast. Mark Williams was in there pitching and a few others wandered in an out.
The evening began with Bradley Johnston augmenting the Alan Law Trio with There Will Never be Another You. Bradley kicked ass on this one as did Alan Laws Anthropology reminded us that this was Peter Gilligan's "signature dish" and they did the now London based pianist proud.
Chris Finch took over the piano stool for It Could Happen to You enlivened by a vocal from Dave Weisser.
Next up flautist Sylvia for an impressive bossa, Bassist Graham had a knock on a blues before Sylvia was joined by Dave Weisser (see photo by Mike Jamieson) and John Rowland (tenor) for Mose Allison's I Love the Life I Live.
A lady whose name I didn't catch sang Ain't Misbehavin' then the girl who stopped the show at the last jam, Julija Jaicenaite sang a couple including a mind blowing All of Me that had most of the jammers jamming along including Sarah Travena on soprano and Jeff Armstrong on drums.
Dave returned for Senor Blues blowing flugel alongside Sarah and John Rowland.
Lindsay Hannon sang God Bless the Child adding a touch of Sunday reverence to the proceedings.
It had been an excellent service and the congregation showed their appreciation.
Special mention for the house trio of Alan Laws, John Pope and Jonathan Myatt who were simply magnificent handling whatever came up.
Photos
Lance.

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