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 Steadman (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, May 07, 2015

RIP Barry Soulsby

More sad news - Barry Soulsby, clarinetist, saxist and singer with Vieux Carré Jazzmen, Rendezvous Jazz and, over the years, many other bands, died at 8am yesterday.
More details when available.
Barry was 73
Sadly missed.
Lance.
at

5 comments :

Steve Andrews (on F/b) said...

Sorry to hear that, Lance. I knew Barry for many years and played tenor in his band at Balmbra's Music Hall (the Saratoga Jazzmen) in 1972, alternating weeks with trombonist Brian Chester, who worked night shifts every two weeks. He was a nice man. My condolences to his family.

Thursday, May 07, 2015 9:50:00 am
Brian Bennett said...

Yes, very sad news indeed and a great loss to our local jazz scene - one of those rare breeds (like Herbie Hudson and Steve Andrews) that combine great jazz musicianship with showmanship - they light up a stage. Barry's vocals such as 'Tain't no sin to take off your skin (and dance around in your bones!); Willie the Weeper; Ace in the Hole; etc., were loved by audiences. All the local bands he was involved with will miss his unique musical ability and personality.

Thursday, May 07, 2015 11:24:00 am
carstairs said...

Another nice man, personally and musically, sadly passed on. I've played many a gig with him in various bands, highlights being the Band Of Brothers ( Rea, McBriarty, Soulsby, and one half of the Hallam twins) or the clarinet duets or trios at the Crescent Club on Mondays. Even a bit of Skiffle when he brought his guitar.
He was also an accomplished classical musician. In fact an all-round person who will be greatly missed.

Thursday, May 07, 2015 12:45:00 pm
CCJAZZMEN said...

This was quite a shock, over the last few years on my visits, I have had so much fun playing along side Barry, and was looking so much forward to doing the same this year. My clarinet player from Ned Kelly's Franco Valussi, loved playing a duet with him with the Vieux Carre Jazzmen just last July, and told me Barry has so much soul in his playing. A wonderful clarinet player, who was also full of humor, and I will deeply miss that big smile on his face, when I used to walk into the room.
R.I.P

Colin Aitchison
Hong Kong

Friday, May 08, 2015 6:18:00 am
Unknown said...

Rip,Barry will miss your face in Cramlington.

Sunday, May 31, 2015 10:17:00 pm

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