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

Sunday, August 31, 2014

CD Review: Kelley Suttenfield and Tony Romano - Among The Stars

Kelley Suttenfield (vocals); Tony Romano (guitar)
(Review by Ann Alex).
This is Kelley Suttenfield’s second CD.  She has performed in the USA and Europe, and her guitarist is a musician and educator with 20 years experience.  On this enjoyable CD they give us 5 jazz standards, plus songs by Neil Young (Harvest Moon); KD Lang (Wash Me Clean); Carol King (One Fine Day); Buffy Sainte-Marie (Until It’s Time For You To Go); and Bob Dylan’s I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight.  
This is a very varied, pleasing selection, sung with a sweet and sometimes breathy voice, accompanied by sensitive, responsive guitar. The stated intention on this disc was to present the songs in a stripped-down and intimate format which has been done successfully, but I would have liked some tracks to be a bit punchier with a bit more swing, to provide greater variety. However generally the CD makes for good listening.
The opener is Fly Me To The Moon with a bell-like guitar and a gentle vocals, which makes a change from the usually brisk way this song is performed.  Beautiful Love is livelier with a jazzy guitar solo and just the right amount of improvisation in the vocals.  Wash Me Clean is almost hymn-like, which suits the words, but One Fine Day is a track which would have benefited from a livelier interpretation.  On the other hand Until It’s Time For You To Go is well suited to the intimate style of presentation.  The disc also includes Just Say I Love Him; Try Your Wings and People Will Say We’re In Love, 10 tracks in all, with lots of space for guitar solos from a jazz guitarist who knows his stuff.
Kelley Suttenfield and Tony Romano - Among The Stars is to be released on September 30.  See www.kelleysuttenfield.com
Ann Alex.

No comments :

Blog Archive