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: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. St Thomas & Bésame Mucho. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 07: Side Cafe Oᴙkestar @ Café Under the Spire, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Table reservations: 0191 477 3970.
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

Tuesday, April 08, 2014

Sheila Giles Photos added to archives.

More photos of the late Sheila Giles have been added to the archives courtesy of Margaret Barnes. A lot of them are short on info such as dates, venues and names. If anyone can help please do.
Here is the link to the album.
Lance.

8 comments :

Anonymous said...

Oh my, in the album linked above, second row down, photo on the right, this was taken in my club/restaurant, The Speakeasy in London, sometime between 1985/90. Sheila performed there a few times. She became a very good friend. Happy, happy days.

Lance said...

Please tell us more about your friendship with Sheila and the Speakeasy.

Joyce said...

Hi Lance. Well Sheila came in to my club one night for dinner with a friend and to listen to some jazz (pianist and singer). We got talking and she told me she 'used' to sing a bit, what an understatement that was, lol. After talking for a while, we agreed to meet up the next day and talk about her doing a gig, which we did. It was a complete sell out and Sheila was sensational, had the audience in the palm of her hands. She appeared a few more times and always went down a storm. We became close friends, even when I moved back to Edinburgh to bring up my family. Sadly we lost touch when she moved out of London, then back, then away again. I feel a real sadness that she's no longer with us. She was one of a kind.

Lance said...

Thanks Joyce, the Speakeasy Club must have been quite a place. Is this the same club that was once owned by the Kray Twins

Lance said...

Hi Joyce, speaking to Margaret Barnes, who provided some of the photos, she remembers Sheila talking about you and how good friends you were. She also thought that Dave Green and Mick Pyne were probably on the gigs that she did at the club.

Unknown said...

Do you have any recordings of Sheila's music. She was my Great Aunty (my Grandad's sister) and I can only remember meeting her once when I was 7 back in 1981. It has been amazing to see the old photos of her

Joyce said...

Hi Lance....She always had Mick Pyne and his musicians play for her at the club, fantastic guys. Mick has also sadly passed away. Helen, sorry I don't have any recordings of her, I wish I had. Xxxx

Joyce said...

Lance, Yes, Sheila always used Mick Pyne and his musicians for her gigs at the club. Fabulous musicians. Helen, sadly I don't have any recordings of Sheila singing, how I wish I did have. She was one of a kind.Not only an amazing singer, but a true entertainer. The stories that woman could tell!!

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