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

Sunday, July 12, 2015

Alice Grace and Pete Gilligan @ the Jazz Café - July 11

Alice Grace (vcl); Pete Gilligan (pno).
(Review by Lance).
I knew little about Ms Grace save that Russell had mentioned her in despatches after hearing her singing at an apres GIJF jam session. Russell raved about her on that occasion and now it's my turn!
A tried and tested program - fortunately Summertime missed the cut - and a couple of ringers such as Chick Corea's Crystal Silence and a Kenny Wheeler number that begun just as I had to leave, told us that the lady could sing!
A way with a lyric that took many angular twists and turns, converting the illogical to the logical, and the varied tonal nuances - all the attributes that are the hallmark of a true jazz singer - were there in abundance.  Amazingly, and thankfully, the Saturday Night Fever (crowd noises) that sometimes proves distracting to performer and serious listener alike were, if not totally absent, at least restrained.
On keys, Pete Gilligan provided the essential support - the perfect foil - as well as dazzling the room with his awe inspiring technique and meaningful solos. This was a duo meeting on equal terms and one deserving of repetition. On the subject of repetition, the duo will become a quintet on Sept. 18 for a session in the upper room of "The Caff". Put it in your diary now! Even if Diana Krall is on at The Arena on that night (unlikely!) it will be a heads or tails situation.
Program: Days of Wine and Roses; Just in Time; It Could Happen to You; Angel Eyes; No More Blues; Beautiful Love; Good Morning Heartache; Devil May Care; I Didn't Know What Time it Was; Lush Life; I Thought About You; God Bless the Child; Crystal Silence; I Can't Give You Anything But Love; Night in Tunisia and the Kenny Wheeler tune I mentioned earlier that began as I left for the 23:12 Metro - Yes, I too took a trip on a train...
Lance.
PS: Above photo taken by myself but more from Mike Tilley here.
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1 comment :

Patti D. said...

The closing number sent me home on a high - a swoon inducing cover of More Than You Know. Gorgeous. September 18 will be unmissable.

Sunday, July 12, 2015 9:44:00 am

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