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

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Sid Scott Orchestra @ The Bridge Hotel. September 28

Ray Truscott (electric bass), Paul Gowland (tenor & alto saxophones, synthesizer) & Paul Wight (drums)
(Review by Russell).
Sid couldn’t make the gig with HMRC on his trail. The other Sids did make it. Confused? You will be. The ‘orchestra’ packed a punch. The massed ranks of the sections distilled, a familiar-looking trio took to the floor promising/threatening Weather Report stadium-gig power in the upstairs room at the Bridge Hotel. Those in the know took back row seats.
Jack and Joe gave a clue as what to expect from Sid & co. Jaco Pastorius (Jack) and Joe Zawinul (Joe) featured prominently during the evening. Six string Ray Truscott revisited seventies electric bass playing territory, a synthesized Paul Gowland blew torrents (tenor and alto) and added something Zawinul-like at a lap-topped keyboard.
Meanwhile, Sid (too many Sids in this band) kicked seven shades out of his kit, giving a power-drumming masterclass endorsed by Mahavishnu Billy Cobham. Sid, the drummer (aka Paul Wight) did use brushes as and when, and the set-list did allow some relief from a Weather Report-style power-feast. The rather incongruous Bossamba made way for a tune inspired by Mingus with the catchy title Pass the Hat Charlie Someone Stole the Pie. The naming of tunes prosaic, none more so than Thanks John (Coltrane), paid homage with an element of My Favourite Things and it wasn’t such a stretch to hear Giant Steps. Sid likes Miles, Four Miles took us close to Seven Steps to Heaven.
The Sid Scott Orchestra is a work in progress; retro, respectful, searching. A Jazz Co-op gig at the Globe is in the diary, get along to follow the progress of Sid, Sid and PG.
Russell.

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