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: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. St Thomas & Bésame Mucho. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 07: Side Cafe Oᴙkestar @ Café Under the Spire, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Table reservations: 0191 477 3970.
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

Saturday, September 17, 2016

When Harley Met Gary











In Portugal last week, Maine St. Jazzmen trumpet player Ray Harley caught up with a neighbour of his from the days when he lived over there, Gary Cox. Gary, Ray tells me, is still in great shape at 82 and still doing gigs in Ireland where he lives for six months of the year.
“I can sit and talk with him for ages, his tales of the business are legendary re his many top jobs with NDO, Radio Big Band, Maynard Ferguson, John Patrick and TV work etc. etc. etc. Also, he has fond memories of his time in Newcastle at The Oxford and playing alongside Mike and Ian Carr in the Emcee Five”.
In the above photo, Ray is on the left of the picture. In the picture below (circa 1985 at Corner House) Ray is back row, second from the left and Gary is front row fourth from the left. Band is Ray Chester's. How many others can you recognise?








Lance.

7 comments :

Tom Henderson (on F/b) said...

Great news about Gary Cox, haven't seen him since the Marimba & Downbeat days, happy memories!!

Russell said...

Pete Stuart? Ronnie Pearson? Mike Gilby? Sid Warren?

Lance said...

Not Ronnie Pearson.

Steve Andrews said...

Gordon Marshall? Eddie Shearer? And isn't it Arthur Mowatt's band - he's out front on the right?

Lance said...

Far left is Paul Moran (son of Tommy). Far right is Jan, a Dutch student at Rye Hill. Is the trombonist next to Ray Chester Ric Taylor? I'm sure the drummer is Dennis Healey.

Anonymous said...

Lance I think you are right Dennis Healey on the Drums
Raymond Newton

David Barnes said...

It is quite flattering of course to be likened to Rick Taylor (comments) - but the trombonist sitting on 2nd next to Ray - was me. Happy days. I played for a few years quite regular with Arthur’s band at the Corner House - until I went off to University. Sort of cut my teeth with that band. :)

Lots of memories looking at that photo. :)

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