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, February 19, 2014

Jam Session @ Jazz Café, Newcastle February 18

(Collective) Peter Gilligan (pno); Paul Grainger (bs); Paul Wight (dms); James Harrison (pno); James Carmichael (dms); Elliott Todd (tpt); Paul Gowland (ten/alt); Paul Ruddick (alt); Ian Forbes (dms); Ray Burns (vcl/hca); Joe Fowler (tmb); Kathryn Lowdon, Claire Kelly (vcl); Anth Ord (bs) + .....
The second of the fortnightly jams hosted by Peter Gilligan and co was another successful evening with some excellent instrumentals and vocals.
Too many to describe in detail suffice to say that nobody that I heard disappointed and there were more to come after I left - apologies for not hanging around for the grand finale even though our own Kath Jobes, James Robson, Belinda Voshtina and several others were "waiting in the wings". No doubt their moment came as I was boarding the number 27.
Peter, Paul and Paul (Mary couldn't make it) started things Bouncing with Bud, later James Harrison sat in for Cantaloupe and So What with James Carmichael on drums and Elliott Todd on trumpet. We'll be hearing a lot more of these two young guys in the future, I'm sure. Are they Jambone graduates I wonder? Ian Forbes, who graduated before graduation was invented, sat in and displayed his flawless technique - not without a touch of humour!
Kathryn Lowdon followed up Fine and Mellow with God Bless the Child.. This gal can holler the blues like as if she was born in downtown Kansas City. Big Joe Fowler blew trombone on this one - despite an altercation with a lamp shade suspended from the ceiling - they don't call him Big Joe because he isn't, he is! Ray Burns sang and played Sweet Lorraine. Elegantly attired, as is his trademark, Ray never fails to hit the spot. Paul Gowland blew some equally elegant alto. He later switched to tenor when the Ruddick Paul arrived with alto and the two horns riffed behind Claire Kelly who had a couple of bites at the cherry with Is You Is or Is you Ain't my Baby? and, later, Ain't Nobody's Business if I do. Sounded good. The Gowland Paul blew Darn That Dream on tenor and despite some reed problems he was on the money. Caravan had 4 Pauls (see pic.) and a Peter aboard including 3 PGs!
I've missed a whole lot of happenings out so get back in two weeks time to catch up - you won't regret it.
Photos.
Lance.

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