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

Saturday, December 21, 2013

QUIZ ANYONE? - Ruth Lambert Trio at The Gala Theatre, Durham. December 20



(Review/Photos by Jerry)
1] “Lithuanians and Lats do it…….” [Invitational?]
2] “Beautiful music, faint as  Will o’ the Wisp..” [Ornithological?]
3] “….Never seen things going so right,,,” [Meteorological?]
4]”Your love is rain / My heart a flower…” [Drinkable?]
5]”Why be afraid of whether / This little dream may fade…” [Amorous?]
6]”I need someone to rock me…” [Instructional?]
7]” You’d be so nice by the fire…” [Domestic?]
    8]”So lucky to be / The one you run to see…” [Sequential?]
    9]”Have fun, you lucky people / The drink and the laugh’s on me…” [Optical?]
10]”Slip a sable…under the tree…for me…” [Exhortatory?]
 In spite of Met Office warnings and louring skies, there was another big turn-out today to hear a great selection of tunes. Upbeat and happy, blues or bossa nova, whimsical or melancholic, seasonal or for all times, but always melodic and oh-so-cleverly penned, as you would expect from the likes of Hoagy, Cole Porter, Sammy Cahn, Irving Berlin, as well as Jobim and (left-field, but OH SO GOOD!) Bonnie Raitt! Ruth exercised her full vocal range from deep and mellow which warmed the room, to a very high top note which set off sirens (seemingly) on Milburngate Bridge. Mick and Giles accompanied her sensitively, allowing the lyrics to engage the audience, then soloing and taking centre-stage themselves. Mick did some slap-bass (?) on one song which was the OPPOSITE of louring skies and did everything on one “moody” number where Giles had a rest! Giles himself played in a variety of styles -some lovely latin rhythms and one fine blues solo stick in the mind.
Altogether delightful and it has put me in the mood for Christmas!!
Jerry.

10 comments :

Anonymous said...

By way of explanation: 1-10 above are quotes from the numbers Ruth sang. The brackets are cryptic clues to the titles so CRY ME A RIVER (which Ruth did not sing - shame!) might have been described as [Lachrymose?] JERRY

Russell said...

Off the top of my head...

1) Let's Do It
2) Skylark
3) ?
4) ?
5)S'Wonderful
6) Love Me Like a Man
7) You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To
8) ?
9) Black Coffee
10) ?

I'm hummimg the blank ones. someone else can fill them in and/or correct my effort!

Anonymous said...

1,2,6,7 correct! You are top-scorer so far, Russell!
3 was "the opposite of louring skies",4 was the bossa nova mentioned in my comments (as was its composer) and 10 a seasonal wish-list! Any help? JERRY

Russell said...

Hi Jerry

3) Blue Skies
4) Jobim - can't get the title, yet!

Anonymous said...

50% now - Blue Skies it was.
For Jobim, think water to drink (in either Iberian language).
10's EASY (honest!) A favourite of Ruth's.... a wish-list for Dec 24, exhorting haste from a jolly chap in red!

Lance said...

9 Heavenly optics.

EmmaFiskJazzVio said...

10 Santa Baby?

Anonymous said...

Spot on, Emma!
Yes, "Heavenly" for ANGEL EYES, Lance.
Which just leaves 4,5,and 8, I think.
JERRY

Lance said...

4: Aqua etc...
5: Don't say this to Zoe if Andy's around!
8: Frequently talking to one's self.

Anonymous said...

4: sim, exacto. Agua de Beber
5: Sound advice!
8: was "Time after Time"
JERRY

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