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

Thursday, October 16, 2014

James Harrison Trio with Caroline Bagley @ Cherry Tree. October 15

Caroline Bagley (vcl/alt); James Harrison (pno); James Robson (bs gtr); Tom Chapman (dms).
(Review by Lance).
It was maybe 5/6 weeks back that Caroline Bagley made her Cherry Tree début with the James [Harrison] Gang. She impressed then but tonight was even better - particularly after the mic had been given an extra crank.
This was the 50th anniversary of Cole Porter's death and, although his music didn't feature in the set list, I'm sure he'd have appreciated the music and the food that was served up.
The trio played their CT signature tune - Food, Glorious Food and whilst I was enjoying the Home made black pudding, egg and brown sauce, Caroline was demanding the Frim Fram Sauce - I hope she got it!
My main course was Chargrilled bistro rump steak, café de Paris butter with traditional steak garnish and French fries.
This coincided with La Bagley chanting Autumn Leaves in French - la belle dame also blew some multi-lingual alto.
Merci (or should that be Mercer, as in Johnny?)
More alto on a spellbinding God Bless the Child followed by some scatting on Lullaby of Birdland and an up-tempo Summertime - it must be carved in stone somewhere that if you sing jazz you sing Summertime irrespective of the season.
Caroline sat the next one out - Blue Monk - and young Harrison gave as fine a rendition as you're likely to hear this side of Hackensack. Bravura flourishes a-plenty reminded us that not only is James an outgoing player but one who absolutely loves what he's doing - and so he should, he does it so well!
The set finished with Would You Be My Love?
My answer was yes!.
I usually leave around about this time but I was enjoying it so much I delayed ordering dessert. Instead chatted with John T from Ashington, proprietor Peter, the lovely couple who sit in the corner and Charles and Jackie who were new to me but Chas certainly knows his jazz.
It was game on again with Tom Chapman calling the children home with an impressive hand-drumming blast that eventually took the form of One Note Samba. Caroline, on alto, decided It Don't Mean a Thing if it Ain't got That Swing - she proved the point - it swung!
The trio said Let's Fly Down, Let's Fly Down, to New Orleans prompting Caroline to sing Why Don't You Do Right? Well they did right with a fine solo from Mr Bassman Robson.
And so the night unfurled.
Apple Madeleine Cake with Sunny, Apple Jelly and Street Life, Toffee Pieces and I'd Rather Go Blind rounded off my evening
They're back here in two weeks - book your table now!
Lance.

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