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

Monday, February 10, 2014

PG3 + 2 @ Salsa Café February 8

Pete Gilligan (Keys) Paul Grainger (D.Bass) Steve Summers (Sop & Tenor Sax) Don Forbes (Trumpet)  Tim Johnston (Drums)
(Review by Kath Jobes).
Salsa Café was buzzing when I arrived, my friend Emma had managed to get a table near the front, close enough to smell the saxes! Steve Summers had brought along two plus his usual selection of percussion for the Latin numbers… already I could see this was going to be a good night! 
Don Forbes led the band off with a lively There Will Never Be Another You, then came the first of several Horace Silvers numbers… and Pete was in his element with Silver’s SerenadeTokyo Blues saw a superb trumpet solo from Don and I was so impressed I missed the name of the next number… sometimes I’m just having too much fun!  
Summer in Central Park continued the Silver theme, and one could almost see the silvery sparkles as Pete Gilligan tinkled lightly over the keys to this gentle tune. Quick Silver was lively and demonstrated the skills of each member of the band as they exchanged 4s... I love the way these guys just bring a smile as they introduce a quick riff of Oh You Beautiful Doll near the end of the tune… truly delightful! A change of sax to soprano for Steve Summers and a gorgeously gentle and haunting account of Lonely Woman that was followed by Beautiful Love to bring the first set to a close.
Set two saw the percussion talents of Stevie Summers as he played Cabasa during Liberated Brother, while Tim Johnstone used mallets and softly set the Latin groove. This groove continued and during Nica’s Dream Steve played both Pandeiro and Sop Sax, switching seamlessly from one to the other.  I Remember Clifford saw the return of the tenor to accompany Don Forbes, and then the band took us to Nutville before another gentle ballad aptly named Peace.   It seemed that peace didn’t last for long as the band struck up a lively rendition of Oleo.  The final number saw the return of a delightful riff this time from singing in the rain… yes indeed, it was of course Come Rain or Come Shine… and shine they did. As Paul Gowland, who arrived towards the end of the night, having been working elsewhere, then proceeded to write on my notepad at the end of my notes… Band was Brill!
Kath J.

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