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

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.

Wed 11: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington.. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 11: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, 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

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings @ Sage Gateshead November 19

Bill Wyman (bs gtr); Frank Mead (sax/vcl/hca) Nick Payn (sax/hca); Geraint Watkins (keys/vcl); Albert Lee (gtr/vcl); Terry Taylor (gtr/vcl); Graham Broad (dms); Beverly Skeete (vcl) + Maria Muldaur (vcl).
Good old fashioned Rock & Roll, Rhythm & Blues, Soul, Blues, Jazz - you name it, you got it!
Vocals galore and mind-blowing solos to boot. The only thing that puzzled me was why weren't the audience boppin' and jivin' in the aisles? Then I looked about me - there were as many grey hairs and bald pates as you get at the average north-east jazz concert. More in fact as Hall One, whilst not full to the rafters, had a respectably crowded two tiers with a sprinkling on the third.
This was fun with the two saxes not only laying down the jazz but choreographing their riffs like a 1940s band at Harlem's Apollo Theatre. Both horns doubled on blues harp, jaw harp and Mead had a few vocal blasts as well. Likewise guitarists Lee and Taylor sang the blues and burned the fretboard. Taylor also proved to be a raconteur of the first order getting plenty laughs.
Watkins, depping for an ailing Georgie Fame, also drew the belly laughs as well as the plaudits for his keyboarding and singing.
Beverly Skeete continues to add beauty and vocal skills to the ensemble whilst special guest Maria Muldaur added her own personality to the shebang.
Could it really be 40 years since Midnight at the Oasis? Maria wears it well.
Wyman? Cool, laid back, he did the job and absorbed the jokes - "He's on Sanatogen and Ovaltine" quipped Taylor.
Set list: (1) Chicken Shack (Watkins); Do You Like Soul Music? (Beverly); Good Mornin' Captain (Lee); Just Your Fool (Mead); I'm A Woman, Steady Love; I'll Be So Glad (3 x Maria); Time is on my Side (Watkins); Talk to me Baby (Taylor); Jitterbug Boogie (Lee); Good Rockin' (Beverly/Maria).
(2): It's a Man's World (Beverly); Sugar Babe (Mead); Jump Jive (Lee); 300 lbs of Joy (Watkins); I'll be Satisfied (Beverly); Race With the Devil (Taylor/Lee); Rich Man's Woman's Blues; Midnight at the Oasis; Don't You Feel My Leg (3 x Maria); Johnny B. Goode (Watkins); I Just Want to Make Love to You (Beverly).
There was, no doubt an encore or six, but I was satisfied with what I'd heard and the bus beckoned.
Very enjoyable evening for those who can cross the genres.
Lance.
at

No comments :

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )

Blog Archive