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, April 26, 2015

Vieux Carré @ The Globe Jazz Bar, Newcastle.

Peter Wright (tpt); Paul Gowland (ten); Laurence McBriarty (tmb); Brian Bennett (bjo); Phil Rutherford (sousa); Fred Thompson (dms/vcl) + John Broddle and Minnie Frazer (vcls).
(Review by Lance).
The diversity of  music presented by the Jazz Coop at the Globe Jazz Bar has never been more clearly defined than by these last two sessions. Yesterday, the DB Jazz Project were looking towards tomorrow. Today, the Vieux Carré Jazzmen looked back at yesterday (and a few days before that!)
Both are relevant, Jazz has a long and beautiful past and it is important that that there are still bands around, such as the VCJ, to ensure that the bygone eras are not forgotten.
Not that tonight was all clunk clunk, oompah, oompah  - not with Paul Gowland around! The tenor player slotted in perfectly, adapting his usual fiery style to suit the idiom. Outstanding was his version of Out of Nowhere - a prequel to John Broddle's vocal - which featured tenor accompanied by banjo, sousaphone and drums and it actually worked!
Broddle was one of several singers strutting their stuff, the others included drummer Fred Thompson and the Coop's own Minnie Frazer.
Minnie sang Ain't Misbehavin', despite the challenge of singing it a couple of tones lower than she normally does it sounded good. Later she duetted with John Broddle on All of Me.
Apart from Out of Nowhere, John also crooned If I Had You, Roses of Picady, Should I? and Margie.
Fred Thompson gave us When Somebody Thinks Your Wonderful; Indiana; Tin Roof Blues and Bei Mir Bist Du Schon - all were well received by the well attended session which augurs well for future trad nights.
Apart from the vocals, there was Melancholy Blues - powerful trumpet from Peter Wright - Joe Avery's Piece, which bore a strong resemblance to Rock Around the Clock and the opener Lord Lord Lord You Sure Been Good to me with McBriarty blowing some 'shoutin' trombone.
Behind it all Bennett, Rutherford and Thompson kept the engine running and firing on all cylinders - this was one fine Model T. If they ever do a London-Brighton for trad bands the VCJ would be a good each way bet!
I left just before the end to catch the number 22 which for future reference I now know arrives at 01, 21 and 41 minutes past the hour,
Photos.
Lance.
PS: Forgot to mention that Johnny Handle was in but, unfortunately, the Clavinova was covered over!

1 comment :

Debra said...

A great evening, with a lovely atmosphere. There will be more!!

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