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

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.

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 Community Hall. 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.

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, March 16, 2015

Cubop Spoken Here. Havana Club 5 + Heaton Horns @ Hoochie Coochie March 15.

Carlos Luis Rivera/Paco Rivera (perc/vcls)); Alan Law (pno); Paul Grainger (bs); Antonio Marrero (vcl/perc); Simon Coleman (dms); Darren Millett (gtr); + Heaton Horns: David Matthew Gray (tmb); Alex Saxon (alt/fl); Elliot Todd (tpt).
(Review by Lance/Photos courtesy of Anna Miller to follow.*)
The occasional Sunday afternoon gigs at Hoochie are usually something else and this one was no exception! It didn't matter that I hadn't a clue what the songs were about or whether they were in Portuguese, Spanish or a mixture of both, what counted was the infectious, compelling and at times hypnotic rhythms that engulfed those who weren't away wining and dining their mother (or somebody else's mother). They should have brought her here!
Apart from the percussive aspect, some wild blowing by the horns added to the excitement and it was no surprise that the dance floor wasn't empty.
Alan Law tells me he's going to Cuba for music lessons - on this showing he doesn't need many (if any!)
They ran the whole spectrum Latin, Jazz, Salsa, Samba, Cha Cha Cha and a whole lot more - no need to go to the Caribbean let it come to you with the Havana Club 5. Likewise - no need to go to Heaton let Heaton come to you with the Heaton Horns!
Lance. 

3 comments :

David Gray said...

Just to help you out:

Simon Coleman on kit

Antonio Marrero on vocals

Great seeing you there, Lance. It was an endless train of chaos, but a very fun one and hopefully the start of a wonderful partnership with the horns.

Lance said...

Thanks David. Just need the name of the guitarist (and a couple of the promised pics from Anna).

Paul Grainger (on F/b) said...

I see you have the others. Just Darren Millett on guitar to add.
Thanks again for the review, and thanks for making the effort when it meant a dash for you when Dave Newton was due to play across town (I would have been at the Globe if not playing at Hoochie). It was great fun and hopefully the first of many such gigs.

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