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: 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.

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, November 02, 2013

Whitley Bay Classic Jazz Party @ The Village Hotel nr. Shiremoor, Day one: Afternoon. November 1..

(Photo - Daryl Sherman (right) and north-east jazz enthusiast Margaret Barnes)
Such was the diversity of jazz in the pre bebop era that this year's Whitley Bay Classic Jazz Party was able to present  almost 40 concerts over the three days each with a different theme.
Day One had afternoon sessions exploring the music of Jimmy Noone; Early Ellington; King Oliver in New York; Rarely played Bix and the first session I was able to attend. 
Mildred Bailey/Swing.
Daryl Sherman (vcl/pno); Emma Fisk (vln); Duke Heitger (tpt); Alistair Allan (tmb/vcl); Jean-Francois Bonnel (reeds); Keith Nichols (pno/vcl); Spats Langham (gtr/bjo/vcl); Henry Lemaire (bs); Richard Pite (dms).
A tribute to "The Rockin' Chair Lady" interspersed with swing instrumentals, it was appropriate that, after a robust Shanghai Shuffle from the band, Daryl should sing Rockin' Chair.After a few words about Mildred Bailey the always smiling Ms Sherman moved on to Someday Sweetheart sung in her inimitable and appealing voice. The band all soloed effectively and none more so than Emma Fisk who had a fiery solo that drew nods of approval from the singer and vociferous applause from the audience.
Spat's crooned Sunday and trombonist Allan  impressed with his Teagarden-like solo and vocal on I Cover the Waterfront. Daryl gave us Billy Reid's I'll Close my Eyes plus more info on Mildred Bailey and her husband Red Norvo including their legendary arguments when "in their cups".
Go Harlem with Nichols to the fore and Heitger, Bonnel, Allan and Fisk saying plenty along with some  Chick Webb inspired drumming from Pite. More piano on I've Got my Love to Keep me Warm but this time with a difference. After Daryl's vocal she joined the pianist for a four-hander then took over for a chorus or two on her own before returning to the microphone.
The set finished with Nichols and Spats duetting vocally on Happy Feet and it was with very happy feet that we retired to the bar or, in my case, the CD stall where I performed my stewarding duties.
A good start to the Classic Jazz Party - the late Mike Durham whose spirit surely hovered over us would surely have been proud of the way his baby remains alive and healthy.
Lance.

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