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, December 08, 2013

Keith Stephen's Hot Club Trio Featuring Caroline Irwin @ Ashington Jazz Club December 4.

Keith Stephen (Guitar), Roly Veitch (Guitar), Bruce Rollo (Bass), Caroline (Irwin) Stephen (Vocals)
(Review by Peter Sanderson).
The  December gathering of the faithful members at Ashington Jazz Club would not be the same without this combo. As the 2012 meeting was cancelled due to poor weather we had waited a long time for this evening. A good audience arrived and, to adopt a phrase from a pop song of the fifties, "Ooo what a night we had, such a night." 
Motherhood has obviously been a great experience for Caroline who took to the stage with an air of confidence and maturity. I would suggest the voice is different and more accomplished as she presented a number of lyrics with vigour and an assurance in her ability to entertain, surprise and delight her audience with a wide range of lyrics. The quality of the musicians who support her  does not go unnoticed  playing a major role in delivering each superb performance. Keith on lead guitar has such skill while the ever dependable and incomparable Roly Veitch is there driving the rhythm forward with ease. He also sings well in a sort of gentle Chet Baker style adding his own emotional feeling to the lyrics. What can you say about Bruce Rollo. His style reminds me of Slam Sterwart of B.G. Groups which I adored as a young Jazz enthusiast. How he achieves such movement is beyond me but his rare style is just brilliant. The Band put a smile on a happy audience which was what this evening was all about so near to Christmas.
PROGRAMME - Exactly Like You, Walking After Midnight, Bie Mir Bist du Schoen (you know that one -I do my best but not German), Django's Castle, Dinah, Autumn Leaves, Winter Wonderland, Dr. Jazz, Happy as the Day is Long. Minor Swing, Speak to me of Love, Red Hot Mama, Stars Fell on Alabama, Shine, Wonderful World, La Vie en Rose, China Boy, I Get the Blues When it Rains, Running Wild, and the encore Santa Baby.
On this the final AJC meet of the year may I thank all our members for their support in 2013. Without you we would not have a Jazz Club.
To all those wonderful musicians and bands who have travelled to our most Northerly Jazz Club and appeared on our stage we appreciate your making the journey. I hope you have a good working Christmas and may  2014 bring you many gigs. Good health and thank you from AJC.
A big thanks to The Elephant for allowing our Club to move forward . We thank you for your cooperation. Best Wishes.
Finally, we would like to show our gratitude to Lance Liddle and Bebop Spoken Here who have given AJC the publicity we need.
To all Jazz enthusiasts our there "Keep Jazzing". Thank John Taylor for making all this happen.
We take a break  now until our first meeting of the New Year .when Alter Ego will be our guests.  Wednesday February 5th.  at 8.00 p.m.  See  you there.
Peter S.

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