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 Stedman (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, December 25, 2014

So how did you spend Xmas Day?

Usual, turkey, vino, Kiss Me Kate on TV (if only I hadn't seen the Keel/Grayson movie first!) digging into my back catalogue of CDs - Harold McNair's Flute & Nut (the best flute disc ever - plus some tasty alto). Another late great Jamaican, tenor player Bogey Gaynor's Blue Bogey. Laughing at the jokes in Nick Harris's Have You Heard The One About... enjoying reading Herbie Hancock's autobiography Possibilities whilst tucking into some Belgium chocolates and, I'm pleased to say, not wearing a Xmas jumper!
So how was it for you?
Lance.

6 comments :

Roly said...

Just the usual socialising, lazing around and eating too much but as regards jazz I have a CD playing in the car 'These Rooms' with Jim Hall & Tom Harrell. A lovely CD. On it is a ballad composed by Jim's wife Jane titled 'Something Tells Me' and its a gem.

Phil John Kelly (on f/b) said...

Bill Evans on CD. Made a curry, drank a lot of Cava, port, Old Speckled Hen. Jaques Loussier concert on You Tube. Yuletide Blessings, Lance

Russell said...

Made a curry, drank a bottle of wine (me, a beer drinker!), listened to some Stan Kenton, read Chris Barber's autobiography 'Jazz Me Blues', ate some chocolate...

Patti D. said...

Drank a demi bottle of champagne with son, Chris - while listening to Zoot Sims, Darlene Love, and John Grant. Opened pressies, cooked traditional turkey and stuff, more drinks then huge amounts of food. Sounds typical? I also went out for a half marathon run ..... do you believe me? It's always a magical time of the year for me.

Ann Alex said...

I spent Xmas day at my niece's house and heard no jazz at all, but did talk about One Direction with her 11 year old daughter! A lovely family day, rounded off with the 'The Hunger Games' an excellent film.

Liz said...

I spent the morning walking on the Sussex Downs with my son, his partner and their dogs( named Jazz and Blues) Then we came back & opened our presents. Champagne, turkey etc for the big meal in the afternoon with great surround sound music playing in every room. Evening watched Downton Abbey( having recorded "Kiss me Kate" for another time!

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