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

Thu 29: The Noel Dennis Band @ Prohibition Bar, Albert Road, Middlesbrough TS1 2RU. 7:00pm (doors). £10.84. Quartet plus special guest Zoë Gilby. Over 35s only. Rescheduled from December 4th.
Thu 29: Oh No Noh + Dan Coulthurst Quintet @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £16.45., £13.28., £12.22., £9.04. Coulthurst (trumpet); Joel Steadman (bass clarinet, flute); Nico Widdowson (piano); Fergus Quill (double bass); Theo Goss (drums).

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: 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: TBC.
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

Monday, June 11, 2018

Crombie Rides Again!

The big news is that the long-awaited documentary, The Geordie Jazzman - Abi Lewis' affectionate portrait, warts and all, of the late Keith Crombie - is to be given a public showing, not only at Newcastle's Tyneside Cinema but also at Home as part of the Manchester Jazz Festival.
A private viewing back in 2016 impressed the majority of those invited and filmmaker Abi Lewis has kept us informed as to
what has happened in the meantime ...

Well,  we’ve toured GEORDIE JAZZ MAN to several international film festivals, which saw us win the 2017 Jury Prize for ‘BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM’ at NorthWestFest in Canada. 
Other festivals we’ve played at include; Sheffield Doc Fest (DP), Aldeburgh Doc Fest, Copenhagen Jazz Film Festival, Long beach Indie, L.A., the Oklahoma Doc Fest and Solo Positivo Music Film Festival, where we won 'Best Director Of Photography’ (well done to the wonderful James Cook!).

We ended our tour last November at the Chicago International Movies and Music Festival, which I think Keith would have approved of given it’s connection to Jazz and the Blues. 
It has been a real honour to attend some of the festivals listed, and especially to witness first hand how Keith’s story translates for an international audience. 

So what’s been happening so far in 2018? 
This year we brought independent film distribution and audience strategy consultant Jonny Tull onto the team. Jonny has many years of experience working in the UK film exhibition sector, including being a former programmer and head of marketing at the Tyneside Cinema in Newcastle. 

But for now - wait for it….. We are planning to RELEASE the film to the public with a bespoke theatrical UK tour, and take Keith on the road. 
The first screening will be at HOME in Manchester on Wednesday, July 11th as part of HOME’s Jazz On Film season – a collaboration with Manchester Jazz Festival. 

The second (FILM & MUSIC event) will be on Friday, July 27th at the Tyneside Cinema which will celebrate Keith’s legacy and the Jazz scene in the region. This is the first public screening of the film in the North East and we’re really excited about making lots of noise about it in the press. The film screens with a Q&A and a late-night after Party in the Tyneside Coffee Rooms.
Abi.
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Well, I for one can't wait to see it again - Lance.
at

1 comment :

Nick Gould said...

Will we be able to get a dvd or download it?

Tuesday, June 12, 2018 12:45:00 pm

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