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

Monday, October 20, 2014

Keith Stephen's Hot Club Trio w. Caroline Irwin @ Blaydon Jazz Club (Black Bull). October 19

Keith Stephen (gtr); Roly Veitch (gtr/vcl); Bruce Rollo (bs/vcl); Caroline Irwin (vcl).
(Review by Lance).
Caroline wasn't firing a ukulele from the hip or a cornet from the lip (at least not during the first set) but this modern day flapper did flash her eyes, and us males paralyse, with her vocals during this fine session at the Black Bull.
It had been a while since I visited the cosy home of Blaydon Jazz Club involving for me as it does trains and boats and planes or, to be more precise, buses, metros and pedestrian flyovers. The trip was worth it.
The room has an ambiance that lends itself to whatever the evening holds in store allowing for interaction been performer and listener.
The two guitarists are masters of the style and it was interesting to compare the different sounds despite both using Maccaferri style guitars. Keith, on lead, punchier, harder sounding - the fighter. Roly, softer, sweeter - the boxer. But this wasn't a brawl, it was a meeting of the like-minded combining to turn Blaydon into the 21st Arrondissement.
On bass, Bruce Rollo plucked and slapped - no poncy arco stuff from him and Caroline, as stated, drew the audience in a manner that can best be described by the groups opening instrumental - Coquette!
Vocals on Fly Me To The Moon; Cuckoo (en Francais); Me, Myself and I (with great guitar interplay); Bésame Mucho (en Español); I Get the Blues When It Rains; This is my Lucky Day and I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter (w. vocal assist from Bruce). Roly sang Dinah (composed by Harry Akst w. words by Sam Lewis and Joe Young - no not our Joe Young - and not by Eddie Cantor as I suggested although he did originally perform it!)
A waltz about Hedgehogs featured some prickly guitar playing and my evening was rounded off with yours truly winning a bottle of vino in the raffle!
I wanted to stay longer but the trains and boats and planes scenario demanded an early depart.
Don't miss next months special - ace tenor player - Vasilis Xenopoulos. November 23.
Lance.
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