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

18219 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 73 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 24), 73

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Fri 30: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 30: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 30: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 30: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 30: Pete Roth Trio @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). Feat. Bill Bruford.
Fri 30: Jive Aces @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm.
Fri 30: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Northern Edge Coffee, Silver St., Berwick. 7:00pm.
Fri 30: Dan Coulthurst Quintet @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £10.00 + £1.00. bf (www.wegottickets.com). Coulthurst (trumpet); Joel Steadman (bass clarinet, flute); Nico Widdowson (piano); Fergus Quill (double bass); Theo Goss (drums).

Sat 31: Darling Dollies @ St George’s Church, Jesmond, Newcastle. 3:00pm. £10.00. Vocal trio.
Sat 31: Brass Fiesta @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 10:30pm. Free.

FEBRUARY 2026

Sun 01: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 01: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Quintet + guest Bill Watson (trumpet, flugelhorn).
Sun 01: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: Annie & the Caldwells @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £25.00. adv. Gospel/soul.
Sun 01: Jive Aces @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm.
Sun 01: Olly Styles Experience + Jenny Baker @ the Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 02: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 02: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

Tue 03: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 03: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

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.

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 29, 2016

CD Review: Camilla George - Isang

Camilla George (alto); Sarah Tandy (piano); Daniel Casimer (bass); Femi Koleoso (drums); Zara McFarlane (vocal - 1 track).
(Review by Lance).
Ubuntu Music, is a newly formed recorded music label committed to bringing quality, accessible jazz and related music genres to increasingly wider audiences.
So reads the blurb and, if this release is typical they're in with a shot. All they need is the airplay and the media coverage. Well, they've got BSH's thumbs up for starters.
Trinity graduate George, her mentors include Toussaint, Kofi, Siegel and Speake, is one of the most delightful alto players to emerge in recent years. Lyrical, melodic, never a note out of place.
Neither too many, nor too little, the MOBO nominated Nigerian saxophonist sails through the changes. There's a modern-day bop feel to the opener Mami Wata whilst Lunacity, not surprisingly, is based on It's Only a Paper Moon. There's also a quote or two from Rollins' Don't Stop the Carnival.
Sarah Tandy also strikes a blow for Women Make Music, her playing is an absolute delight. Restrained but so effective. Bill Evans and Ellis Larkins spring to mind although, quite possibly, the next time I listen to those two it will be Sarah Tandy that springs to mind. Casimer we know well from appearances at The Globe this past year and, although Zara McFarlane only enhances one track it's enough to remind us of her appearances at Sage Gateshead.
Like George, McFarlane came through the ranks of Tomorrow's Warriors - what a finishing school that must have been!
Drummer Koleoso is also an ex-Warrior and it shows. He lays it all down, solos, lurks in the shadows, his presence felt rather than heard but, when the chips are down - he's heard!
The band's doing a CD launch tour that begins at Pizza Express, Soho, on January 11, takes a breather to (hopefully) have more CDs pressed then heads north in February.
Sheffield; Manchester; Ambleside; Leeds then, just as you think Newcastle is going to be on the itinerary they shoot off down to Kenilworth; Wrexham and Swansea!
So, we're not going to catch this great band live but the CD will go someway towards making up for it.
Lance.
PS: If I get around to making out anymore Best of 2016 lists this one will be riding high even though the release date isn't until January 2017.
at

1 comment :

Martin Hummel said...

Thanks, Lance. Much appreciated.

Best wishes, Martin Hummel

Thursday, January 12, 2017 3:58:00 pm

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