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

Monday, May 02, 2016

Where Has Ann Alex Got To?

Readers may have missed me [that's me between Sarah Travena and Ian Shaw - Claire Kelly far right] from BSH in recent weeks (or not?) so I thought I’d better explain my absence. I’ve been struck down with what one doctor called an ‘Angry Gallstone’ and I’ve spent a week in hospital, to which I’m returning within the month, for removal of my gall bladder.  This meant that I missed the GIJF and also loads of good things at the Globe. 
However I’ve managed to keep Body And Soul together and I Ain’t Misbehavin’, as I eat very low fat just now. All of Me occasionally aches, so I Don’t Get Around Much Any More, and each morning I say to myself Lady Be Good. It’s not a bad as having a Fever. I’d go out more but we’ve had some Stormy Weather lately. I’m looking  forward to the time after the operation when there’ll be No More Blues and I’ll declare that  It’s Alright With Me.
Amazing what you can do with song titles. I’d love other readers to come up with even better examples.
Ann Alex

9 comments :

The LondonJazz site said...

Straighten Up and Fly Right. All the best for a speedy and complete recovery. Seb

Lance said...

I bumped into "My Old Flame" "On the Street Where You Live". I asked her, "What's New?" She said, "I'm Getting Married in the Morning". I said, "Congratulations" then decided I must "Take the A Train". I got off at Lonely St. and headed for "Heartbreak Hotel"

Liz said...

After your operation, it'll be "So nice to come home to , so nice by the fire"...

Anonymous said...

From Ann Alex, Thanks so much Seb for the good wishes. I love that song title, I suppose it comes from WW2, a message to pilots. And Lance, I hope that's not the story of your life!

Anonymous said...

I think Straighten Up and Fly Right is about kicking the habit!

Facebook comments said...

Jude Murphy Get well soon, Ann x
Like · Reply · 11 hrs
Emma Fisk
Emma Fisk Hope you'll be back on The Sunny Side of the Street very soon Ann!x
Like · Reply · 10 hrs
Patti Durham
Patti Durham Oh yes ..... and Let the Sunshine In - tomorrow, anyway. You'll soon be Bouncing Around! xx
Like · Reply · 10 hrs
Eric Mckenzie Stutt
Eric Mckenzie Stutt Chin up Chuck!! x
Like · Reply · 10 hrs
Mary Bollands
Mary Bollands · Friends with Kath Jobes and 2 others
Sorry to hear that Ann. You must have been Bewitched,bothered and bewildered! Get well soon xx
Like · Reply · 9 hrs
CiCi Sparks
CiCi Sparks Get well soon Ann. But you know that Sarah Travena not Claire Martin right? Unless you're referring to me then I WISH I was Claire Martin haha. Sending healing vibes.
Like · Reply · 2 hrs
Lance Liddle
Lance Liddle That was my fault - I should have went to Specsavers!
Like · Reply · Just now

Liz said...

Ann as "Spring will be a little late this year," when you get back home it's sure to be "Summertime"

Anonymous said...

From Ann Alex. Thanks to all of you for the good wishes and the fun of the song titles!

Russell said...

Are you going to St James Infirmary? It could be The Last Dance, one thing is for sure, There’ll Never Be Another You (phew!). On your return to the folk/jazz scene you could quote Oscar Brown Jnr - Excuse Me For Livin’ and suggest Somebody Buy Me a Drink. That’s assuming it isn’t a case of After You’ve Gone!

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