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

Friday, May 06, 2016

Lewis Curry & Glenn Lambie @ St Nicholas Cathedral. May 6

Lewis Curry (keyboards & vocals) & Glenn Lambie (cajón)
(Review by Russell)
Lunchtime in the pews. 2015 graduates of Sage Gateshead and Newcastle University, Lewis Curry and Glenn Lambie played a short set in St Nicholas Cathedral to a small congregation of city visitors, city dwellers and assorted odd balls. A jazz set? No, but with Mr Tulip’s recent essay on Yes (no, please no!) finding a place on this jazz blog, there has to be a spot for two talented musicians finding their way on the north east’s vibrant music scene.
St Nicholas has to be one of the largest performance spaces on Tyneside. Placing two musicians in front of the altar, the architectural splendour of the cathedral could quite easily intimidate and inhibit. Lewis Curry sat at his Yamaha keyboard, singing songs, percussionist Glenn Lambie sat crouched over his beat box cajón. The duo played one song after another, pop hits of the day and yesterday and the decades before yesterday. From Coldplay to David Bowie to the Beach Boys, it comes as no surprise to learn the lads play at numerous venues as a duo or with the full band – the Lewis Curry Band.
The Killers’ Are We Human or Are We Dancer? Radiohead’s High and Dry and one of Holland-Dozier-Holland’s classics – How Sweet it is (to be Loved by You) – suggests a pad full of tunes will see Curry make a living on the cabaret/function circuit. And nowt wrong with that. Perhaps it was lost on most, but there was a beautiful juxtaposition the likes of which can only be by chance being in a place of worship; the Beach Boys’ God Only Knows, followed by Superstition. Throw in Bowie’s Life on Mars and the brethren could be forgiven for thinking someone was taking the proverbial.
Russell.

No comments :

Blog Archive