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

Sunday, May 28, 2017

Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ The Millstone - May 25

(Review by Russell)
On entering a sweltering Millstone Michael Lamb indicated that the pub’s upstairs room offered a cool refuge from the heat of the day, hastily adding: Only joking! Sure enough the first floor room  resembled a boiler house. MD Lamb’s troops arrived in ones and twos for the Strictly Smokin’ Big Band’s monthly public rehearsal night. Several members of the band arrived in shorts. Where did they think they were? The Costa del Plonk?
Strike Up the Band, Sister Sadie, Basically Blues – a typically eclectic selection from the SSBB. A noticeably absent Alice Grace (presently, the woman has more important things to attend to!) gave some present a first opportunity to hear Jennifer Davies. Orange Colored Sky (more like cloudless blue!) and Too Darn Hot (darn right!) revealed Ms Davies to be a fine singer (a more than capable dep for AG), reading the charts as in standard rehearsal mode.
Michael Lamb lead from the front – intro and solo – on Autumn in New York. We should hear more of ML in a small group setting! The SSBB likes to play Jacob Mann charts. Pronk has become a gig staple and at this rehearsal night we heard Bounce House. It’s well worth checking out J Mann, the composer and big band leader.
More from Jennifer Davies: Alright, Okay, You Win and It Was a Very Good Year. No sign of F’reez tonight, so, Davies had the mic to herself and no one was complaining. Familiar faces were given a chance to shine; on this occasion David Barnes, trombone, Jamie Toms on tenor, Keith Robinson, alto, and, across the room, Graham Don, keyboards, and the ever-impressive Pav Jedrzejewski on guitar. Others featured, they often do, they know who they are! The Strictly Smokin’ rock up at Soul Central (aka Hoochie Coochie) on Sunday 18 June. On stage at 5:30pm, with Alice Grace and our man F’reez, plus a bonus set from Scarlett Street. £8.00., best to book in advance: 0191 222 0130.
Russell                     
Michael Lamb MD, Stephen Wilkinson, Gordon Marshall, Bob Temple (trumpets); David Barnes, Kieran Parnaby, Chris Gurji-Smith, John Flood  (trombones); Jamie Toms (tenor), Paul Gowland (tenor), Steve Summers (alto, soprano & flute), Keith Robinson (alto), Laurie Rangecroft (baritone); Graham Don (keyboards), Pawel Jedrzejewski (guitar), Michael Whent (bass), Guy Swinton (drums) & Jennifer Davies (vocals)

2 comments :

Michael Lamb said...

Thanks for the review Russell... just a minor correction that Scarlet Street won't be gracing us with their presence at Hoochie on June 18th '17. However, correct that Alice and F'reez will be there and doing their thing! Tickets available at www.strictly-smokin.co.uk ��

Russell said...

I knew I should have relied on the SSBB website. Warren needs to update his website!

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