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: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. St Thomas & Bésame Mucho. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 07: Side Cafe Oᴙkestar @ Café Under the Spire, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Table reservations: 0191 477 3970.
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

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Bird Lives!

Alto saxist Mark Toomey tells me that he had a great gig at Saltburn on Friday recreating the original line up and arrangements of the legendary Charlie Parker With Strings sessions.
Over a hundred people turned out to celebrate this timeless music.
It was a tribute to Charlie Parker who died 60 years ago tomorrow (March 12, 1955). 
It also happens to be Mark's birthday today (it's been a good week for birthdays!) and we'd like to wish him many happy gigs and may he continue to spread the gospel according to St. Bird.
As an afterthought, if it can pull 100 people in Saltburn then this show deserves to be heard further afield.
Lance.
Mark Toomey (alto); Kevin Eland (trumpet); Jeremy McMurray (piano); Peter Ayton (bass); Kevin O’Neal (drums); Philip Cull (oboe/cor anglais); Gordon Dyke, Geo Dyke, Anna Dyke (violins); Bruce Taylor (viola); Anita Aslin (harp)
at

4 comments :

Roly said...

Well done Mark. A fantastic effort and a long time ambition fulfilled.
Congratulations.

Wednesday, March 11, 2015 2:21:00 PM
Steve Andrews said...

Great idea! It would be great to see this in the Newcastle area - I've always loved those records!

Wednesday, March 11, 2015 2:57:00 PM
Mark Toomey said...

Hi Lance, I forgot to list the Cello player Gordon Callander who also did a great job of setting up the sound system for the gig. Kevin Eland played the French Horn parts on his Flugal Horn which worked great. We also played some quintet numbers as a contrast to the strings. I used the original arrangements (transcribed) from the 1945 Dizzy Gillespie / Charlie Parker quintet and some from the band that he had with Miles Davis.

Thursday, March 12, 2015 6:06:00 AM
Ron and Linda Hampton said...

Brilliant night of music, really enjoyed it. The band played so well together. Thanks Mark and the rest of the band.

Sunday, March 15, 2015 6:12:00 PM

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