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

Thursday, June 14, 2018

Preview: Hot Club du Nord @ Sage Gateshead - June 20

(Preview/photo by Russell)
The Rye introduced Emma Fisk to the joys and rigours of touring up and down the land in a transit van. After a few years on the road the County Durham based violinist decided the time was right to go to university – Newcastle University, as it happens – with her sights set on becoming a BA, then an MA. Mission accomplished, Fisk accepted an invitation to join Djangology and in no time the Hot Club outfit established itself as one of the best-loved bands on the northeast jazz scene.

Djangology, later to become Djangologie, recorded albums, chalking up countless gigs, then, as is often the way, decided to call it a day, the four musicians keen to work on new projects. And this is where Hot Club du Nord came into the picture. 
A desire to play the music of 30s and 40s Hot Club giants Django Reinhart and Stephane Grappelli brought together Fisk, guitarists James Birkett and Dave Harris, and bassist Bruce Rollo. Where Djangologie left off, Hot Club du Nord took the baton, ran with it, and in double quick time played sold-out gig after sold-out gig.

At Sage Gateshead, on Wednesday, June 20, Emma Fisk’s Hot Club du Nord will headline a superb double bill alongside the Joe Venuti-Eddie Lang inspired duo of Fisk and Birkett. Sage Two is likely to sell out as patrons just can’t get enough of ‘classic era’ jazz. It helps, of course, that violinist Fisk and guitarist Dr James Birkett are virtuosi. Numbers written by, or associated with, pioneers Venuti and Lang, notably their Blue Four, will feature in the duo’s set. Fisk will provide a commentary that is both informative and entertaining in equal measure.

The four members of Emma Fisk’s Hot Club du Nord are busy people working with many other fine musicians, fulfilling teaching engagements and goodness knows what else. Wednesday, 8:00pm in Sage Two, is a golden opportunity to hear them in world class surroundings.    
Russell

To book your tickets telephone Sage Gateshead’s ticket office now: 0191 443 4661.       

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