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, November 02, 2014

RIP David Redfern

Russell, our intrepid scourer of the obituaries, reminded me that I hadn't noted the passing of David Redfern, possibly one of the UK's if not indeed the world's finest jazz photographers. I well remember drooling over his classic images of the jazz greats in his Jazz Album which I purchased at Dobell's back in the 1980s. They're still as good as ever even though (or possibly because) they're from the pre-digital age.
David Redfern passed away on October 23. He was 78.
Sadly missed and my apologies for not posting earlier.
Obituary.
Lance.

3 comments :

Chris Barker (on F/b). said...

Responsible for some of the most famous iconic photos. Everyone will recognise his work but not so many know the name.

Ken Drew (on F/b) said...

Yes, another sad departure from the scene. I was at the 2013 London Jazz Festival .where he and Edu Hawkins had a display of photos, so I had the opportunity to chat to both who were very approachable and great to meet and to briefly discuss the background to some of their work on display. A sad loss but Jazz photography is in good hands with the likes of Edu (and many more besides).

Andy Hudson said...

Sad to acknowledge the passing of David. I had the great pleasure of working with him for many years, and despite him describing me in his book as Andy “Get-off-the-stage” Hudson, we had a good warm relationship in the 70’s 80s and 90s when I was promoting much jazz. He even turned up at my wedding in Dublin and took some classy snaps. For my 50th birthday, he gave me a signed framed print of one of his definitive shots of Duke Ellington which has pride-of-place above the piano in my house.
When he sold his vast catalogue to Getty Images , he cleverly kept joint rights to his favourite 1000 pictures and made a tidy living from them onwards.
A lovely man, great sense of humour, with a perfect “eye” - will be much missed.
Andy Hudson.

Blog Archive