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

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Gala Theatre, Durham – Lunchtime Gigs Spring 2016

January 15 – Zoe Gilby Quartet
Zoë Gilby is a jazz vocalist and songwriter that has been making a real impression on the jazz scene today. A repertoire starting with her compelling original compositions written with double bassist husband Andy Champion and performed by her highly accomplished band, guitarist Mark Williams and drummer Richard Brown. Her stockpile of music reaches a wide range of more contemporary material from composers such as Pink Floyd to Kate Bush. Also included are some superb interpretations of “The Great American Songbook”
Her influences include Carmen McRae, Sheila Jordan, Kate Bush and Joni Mitchell
Twice she has received touring support from Jazz Services and has performed with some of the UK top jazz musicians, including Jim Mullen Organ Trio, Dave Newton, Alan Barnes and Tony Faulkner.
February 12Graeme Wilson Quartet
As good as it gets” – Bebop Spoken Here
"Ceaselessly original and imaginative" - Schmazz website
This band is all about heartfelt improvisation on idiosyncratic tunes that stay with you. The players infuse driving jazz and latin rhythms or ambient swing with their various enthusiasms including folk and rock ballads, free jazz and the dancefloor. Their original material explores unusual meters and structures as vehicles for angular and passionate solos, with narrative melodies resonant enough to evoke a strong sense of place and time.
March 4 - James Birkett and Bradley Johnston Duo
From Eddie Lang, through Django Reinhardt, to Pat Metheny and beyond, the guitar continues to have a universal appeal. James and Bradley present a programme of music by some of the most influential players of the last hundred years taking the audience on a musical journey which moves from early jazz and blues, through swing and bebop, to cool and contemporary jazz.
April 8 – Graham Hardy and Paul Edis Duo
Graham Hardy is an extremely versatile and talented Trumpeter, composer andarranger, well known on the local scene as a sideman in the Sue Ferris Quintet, the Paul Edis Sextet and the Mick Shoulder Quintet as well as leading his own band the Northern Monkey Brass Band. He teams up for this gig with Paul Edis, described as a brilliant young pianist(Alyn Shipton, The Guardian) to perform a concert that includes music by Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis alongside original material from the duo.
All concerts are 1-2pm, £4 from the box office 

No comments :

Blog Archive