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

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Jam Session @ Salsa Café, Newcastle, January 19.

(Review by Peter Ninnim).
So listen.
It’s Sunday; it’s raining; there’s netball on the sports channel; omnibus soap operas on BBC.
You could get stuck into the DIY and score a few points, snooze on the sofa, go to Eldon Square or the Metro centre, OR you could come along to the Salsa Café, bring the kids, and relax with a drink and something to eat and listen to some cool jazz.
Sunday gone was the day for a really entertaining session with new players arriving and a solid rhythm section providing the foundations. Kay Usher brought her electric violin along and kicked off proceedings with an entertaining performance of Honeysuckle Rose. Husband John Usher adding to the ensemble with some tasteful guitar. This was followed by Moonlight in Vermont and Lady be Good
Fi Finden played tenor and introduced Sugar, a tune by Stanley Turrentine and not one with which I’m familiar. All the Things you are and a vocal on Tenderly followed.
The tunes were coming thick and fast and your reporter will have to have a bigger pad so forgive me if some of the attributes are a bit off.
John Rowland gave us Embraceable You as well as, of course, playing on most of the other numbers. Ray Burns joined in on harmonica for Indiana and Jen Errington sung On Green Dolphin Street and Good Morning Heartache and very nicely too. Stuart McKie combined rhythm guitar with some very thoughtful solos, taking it in turns with John Usher, this really worked well.
Kath Jobes provided the vocal on Gee Baby Ain’t I Good to you, Autumn Leaves and I’m Beginning to See the Light; her voice seems to improve each week. Barry Ascroft on Piano , Dave Parker and Peter Ninnim on bass and drums respectively set off Blue Bossa with the horns, including Stuart Finden on Tenor. Among other tunes featured were A Nightingale Sang in Berkely Square, Secret Love and a welcome performance of Angel Eyes by Lindsay Hannon.
No Jam next week; see you on the February 2..
Peter Ninnim

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