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

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Lindsay Hannon/Alan Law @ Jazz Café - Macmillan Cancer Care Coffee Afternoon.

Lindsay Hannon (vcl); Alan Law (pno).
(Review by Lance/photo courtesy of Mike Tilley).
A coffee afternoon (to allow late night jazzers time to get out of bed) didn't draw the charitably minded members of the community in the numbers anticipated. Perhaps it should have held with tradition and made it a Coffee Morning thus catching the jazz owls before they went to bed! Whatever, if you missed it it was your, and unfortunately, Macmillan Cancer Care's loss.
A chocolate walnut gateaux that probably contained all of the calories in the world went down a treat as did the duo up front.
Alan Law is perhaps the most underrated pianist in town. No bombastic, flamboyant shows of bravado - just gentle, melodic and sympathetic nuances behind Lindsay and only the occasional ff flourish when soloing.
The material was a mix of standards and more contemporary offerings. Cry Me A River is a much maligned song but, when sung by Julie London or Lindsay Hannon, it is a pearl.
Christmas Card From a Hooker in Minneapolis - a Tom Waits gem  that our girl did justice to. - Cole Porter never got within a mile of a lyric like this!
At Long Last Love saw Asbury Park substituted with Saltwell Park, Leazes Park and various other local parks and Billy Bragg's Saturday Girl, a poetic tale of adolescent love, - We'd sit together in double history twice a week - another one to hit the spot.
All this and chocolate walnut gateaux - I need to lie down!
Lance.
at

3 comments :

Patti D. said...

Ah yes - sorry I missed this - and these great songs covered! The Tom Waits one is a masterpiece ..... and to think I didn't get a lick of that choco/walnut delight! Most important of course is the whole reason for the gig - raising ££'s for Macmillan Cancer Care. They do amazing work.

Saturday, September 27, 2014 8:52:00 pm
Mike Tilley said...

Just an update we raised 140 pounds for Macmillan, pretty good for a leisurely afternoon.
Mike

Sunday, September 28, 2014 1:04:00 pm
Jen Errington said...

This was a lovely way to spend a Saturday afternoon. Lindsay and Alan on top form. I had home made coffee/walnut - it was delicious. Very pleased to hear the amount raised despite such small numbers.
Jen

Sunday, September 28, 2014 6:12:00 pm

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