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, December 28, 2013

Gilligan, Williams and Forbes December 27 - The Jazz Café

Pete Gilligan (Piano); Mark Williams (Guitar); Don Forbes (Trumpet).
(Review by Kath Jobes).
Life is complicated enough. And jazz is just a chance to escape from it, at least for a moment…Cabin fever had set in at home and I needed some Jazz, so off I went to the Jazz Café for what can only be described as a bouncing night!  The first set was just Gilligan and Williams, who were later joined in the second set by Don Forbes and his trusty trumpet.
Charlie Parker’s Billie’s Bounce set us away with a superb piano solo from Pete, it’s great to see this talented musician back home in the Café.  A lovely arrangement of Keith Jarrett’s Memories of Tomorrow led on to another lively tune this time we were Bouncing With Bud, with an enjoyable call and response section between piano and guitar.  Jim Hall’s captivating Waltz New was followed by a couple of Horace Silver’s tunes - the lively The St. Vitus Dance and Summer in Central Park, with Williams as ever, playing magnificently.  A brief interlude of Michel Petrucciani's September 2nd, then back to Silver with Opus De Funk to end this set.
Set Two commenced again with the Gillingham/Williams duo with Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most, beautiful as an instrumental, but I love Ella’s version. Chick Corea’s Spain followed on, but without the lovely Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez introduction… which is actually my favourite bit… so ok I love a bit of Classical fused with jazz!   Finally Don Forbes joined the guys to play an enjoyable There Will Never Be Another You. His proficient playing continued in Frank Foster’s Simone - delightful …as was You and the Night and the MusicNico’s Dream and Come Rain Come Shine written by Harold Arlen with lyrics by Johnny Mercer... again Ella does a lovely rendition, rounded off a very entertaining night… thanks guys!
Kath J.

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