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

Monday, July 30, 2018

Jazz in the Afternoon @ Cullercoats Crescent Club - July 30

(Review by Russell)
A typical Monday afternoon down at the Crescent Club - the Jazz in the Afternoon band plus a few sitters-in. This week, all the way from Oz, Don Armstrong and Harry Stephenson, and, from just around the corner, the Cullercoats Songstress herself, Teresa (no relation to Don) Armstrong. 

When You and I Were Young, Maggie then Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee's Livin' with the Blues, a regulation start from frontman Herbie Hudson and the boys. More from Hudson the vocalist singing about My Gal Sal, one from the band's other singer, drummer Fred Thompson - I'm Confessin' (That I Love You) - and in no time the first set outer - Back Home in Indiana - with Hudson once more taking the vocal mic alongside the seated Don Armstrong on clarinet. 
Time for a refill - Hexhamshire Brewery's Shire Bitter at a giveaway £2.80., a chat with Mary B (see photo), another dud raffle ticket - before an interval/early second set appearance of one of Cullercoats' finest...Teresa Armstrong. Accompanied by pianist Roy Gibson, TA sang I've Got That Old Feeling'S Wonderful (it was) and After You've Gone. That left Miles Watson with a lot to live up to. The trumpeter likes to sing a tune and this afternoon he opted for 'Tain't What You Do (It's the Way That You Do It).

It was a quarter to three (there's a lyric in there somewhere) as the stand accommodated everyone who had earlier made a contribution including the man at the back, steady Eddie, Mr John Carstairs Hallam and pianist Brian Chester swopping the 88s for his trusty 'bone on The Glory of Love. The homeward bound Metro was coming down the line... 
Russell.
Herbie Hudson (trombone, harmonica, vocals); Don Armstrong (clarinet, alto sax, penny whistle); Brian Chester (piano, trombone); John Carstairs Hallam (double bass); Fred Thompson (drums, vocals) + Teresa Armstrong (vocals); Roy Gibson (piano); Miles Watson (trumpet, vocals); Harry Stephenson (clarinet)  

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