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

Monday, May 05, 2014

Jeff Barnhart @ Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club May 3.

Jeff Barnhart (piano), Anne Barnhart (flute & vocals), John Hallam (ten/bar sax & clarinet), Nick Ward (drums)
(Review / photo by Ray)
Rather than stay at home & fret away our day worrying about the fate of the local football teams, we packed up our troubles & headed south for our monthly "jazz fix" with our friends at St Augustine's.
Entertainment was never likely to be in short supply with Mr Barnhart in town ....his musical knowledge & anecdotes together with his rather zany humour will always brighten your day - then there's that scintillating "stride" style which has you yearning for more...
"Support" today came threefold ...Mrs Barnhart (Anne) providing vocals & the magical notes of the flute; Monsieur Hallam as ever oozing class on reeds; & last but not least Nick Ward showing that classic jazz drumming brings an extra edge to the music we love so.
A swing number to start As Long as I Live led us to In the Middle of a Kiss before the pace upped with Mr Fine & Mr Dandy. Anne then serenaded us with Exactly Like You & Lady be Good with flute too.
The flute has for us been a fairly recent Jazz discovery ....apart from Anne only Amy Roberts (she of Chris Barber Band fame now but thankfully still a regular Jazz at the Spa visitor) has brought the flute to our Jazz world, yet it fits well, & gives a pleasant alternative sound.
I digress ...Just In Time, Irving Berlin's classic Blue Skies then the beautiful ballad A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square saw John at his best on sax. Time for a couple of stride solo's from Jeff ...Jelly Roll  Morton's Some Sweet Day & Pretty Baby before the Benny Goodman hit Stealing Apples took us to the break.
A Cakewalk rag started the second set, a blues in Oh my Babe before Gershwin's  S'Wonderful, then        
Dream a little Dream of me; Love me or Leave me; Burgundy Street Blues; I've got a Feeling I'm Falling.
Jeff reminded us that It don't mean a Thing if it ain't got that Swing before I got Rhythm closed the day to loud applause.
Personally I thought there were a few to many vocal numbers, with three such fine musicians my preference was to be able to appreciate their talents fully. However the audience seemed very happy - who am I to argue or quibble ?
A good crowd of 70+ today, Darlington's numbers are picking up nicely & little wonder with the calibre of musicians they bring to us - next up is Swing City on 5th July, a fine trio.

Ray R.
at

1 comment :

Patti (on F/b) said...

It was a great gig, indeed!

Monday, May 05, 2014 9:46:00 PM

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