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

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

A Weekend of Global Warming Ahead

The Globe's the place to be this coming Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
On Saturday, the Josh Kemp Quartet, is described by The Jazz Coop's wordsman thus...
Critically acclaimed saxophonist Josh Kemp brings his new Hammond Organ based ensemble to The Globe as part of his 2016 tour to promote his new album 'Rare Groove'. The album delivers high-energy jazz with an enjoyable and relaxed groove, taking inspiration from the classic era of Blue-Note jazz, combined with contemporary inflections of rhythm and harmony, all delivered with style and quality from a band of top-class musicians.
Sounding equally impressive playing within the jazz standards tradition and also presenting his own original compositions, saxophonist and composer Josh Kemp has completed major UK tours in 2014 and in 2015, gaining many plaudits along the way for his fluid improvising style and attractive compositions.
Josh Kemp - Tenor Sax; Ross Stanley - Hammond Organ;  Martin Shaw - Trumpet
Tim Giles - Drums
What the papers say‘A mix of Stan Getzian breeziness and Coltrane’s imploring cry.’ The Guardian
‘Wonderfully rich toned with a nuanced and original sound' Time Out
‘A polished and assured mix of contemporary and post-bop styles’ JAZZ UK
Tickets £12 available online or on the door.
Sounds good? and this, but the filling in the weekend sandwich!

The Friday night gig is: 
An evening of collaborative improvisations
Koan 4 brings three intriguing collaborations where the musicians have challenged themselves to work in an improvised format. Every partnership features musicians who combine sensitivity with bold leaps of imagination. This will be a remarkable night of the instant creation of new music.
Shelly Knotts and Mark Carroll
Mariam Rezaei/James Wyness/ Christian Alderson
Adam Denton/trubba not/Nigel of Coalburns
Admission £5 (£4 concessions).

And on Sunday - The House of the Black Gardenia.
Born of the desire to get their city's dancefloors swinging to the lesser-known roots music of the 1920s and '30s, House of the Black Gardenia brings together the new generation of Newcastle's jazz and swing scene for a raucous revival of old-fashioned good times. Expect stride piano, ragtime banjo, Sousa bumps, blistering New Orleans-style horns and infectious swing rhythms more potent than a bathtub full of gin.
Neil Hopper (double bass/sousaphone), Bobbi Charleston (washboard/vocals), Ben Imrye (piano/vocals), Kit Haigh (drums), Michael Lamb (trumpet), David Gray (trombone), Jack Foster (banjo/guitar).
Ignore what you may have read elsewhere - this will be a hoot reminding us that jazz is entertainment, danceable and doesn't have to be listened to with a furrowed brow.
£7. All gigs probably start circa 8pm.
Lance.


1 comment :

Bobbi Charleston (on F/b) said...

Thanks for fighting our corner Lance!

Blog Archive