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

Tuesday, September 04, 2018

Press Release - Middlesbrough Jazz Weekender (October 19-21)

The official press release for the forthcoming 'Middlesbrough Jazz Weekender", is posted below. The event celebrates the 40th anniversary of the now legendary Cleveland International Jazz Festival when Ayresome Park, then the home of Middlesbrough Football Club, figuratively changed the name of the stadium to Awesome Park - such was the array of star names that were featured on that memorable weekend in July 1978.
Sadly, the big bands of Lionel Hampton and Buddy Rich are no longer with us but NYJO still is. And, although George Melly, Ella Fitzgerald and Marian Montgomery have also passed on - along with Art Blakey, Oscar Peterson, Dizzy Gillespie, Bill Evans and Freddy Hubbard - Chris Barber is still around and will be featured on Saturday evening (October 20) with, for many, the highlight of the festival being the finale by the Mingus Big Band (pictured left). The full program is listed below in the official press release.
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(Press Release)
ARTISTS tipped for some of the music industry’s most prestigious awards will be wowing audiences in Middlesbrough next month.

Middlesbrough Jazz Weekender will showcase The National Youth Jazz Orchestra, newly reformed Tees Valley Youth Big Band and MOBO-nominated/Mercury Prize nominees Roller Trio on Friday, October 19 at Middlesbrough Town Hall.

Nominated for MOBO’s Best Jazz Act in its 17th award ceremony watched by over one million viewers, Roller Trio was also nominated for a Mercury Prize with their eponymous debut studio album in the same year.
Chris Sharkey, James Mainwaring and Luke Reddin-Williams make up this jazz/rock trio (picttured left).
Built from sound fragments of Leeds nightlife formed and reformed through the musical intelligence and instrumental brilliance of the three musicians it’s an exhilarating, rollicking ride.
The music is dark, gritty and urban - menacing bass lines underpinned by squalling improvising from guitar and sax - ’dark, menacing and bass heavy – the new sound of UK jazz’ according to BBC6 Music’s Giles Peterson.

The newly renovated Middlesbrough Town Hall also sees high-class acts such as Joe Lycett, Richard Ashcroft and Jason Manford on this year’s bill.

From Mercury Award nominee Laura Jurd to Grammy winner the Mingus Big Band, the Jazz Weekender programmed by Ros Rigby will run from Friday, October 19 to Sunday, October 21.

Friday’s programme will see Jazz North presents Alt-Shift-J as part of an initiative to involve more young people in jazz. The bands include Break Out Brass BandUbunyeBeats & Pieces Big Band and Roller Trio.

The National Youth Jazz Orchestra will be kicking off Saturday showcasing music from the likes of Guy BarkerMelba Liston and BBC Proms performer Laura Jurd.

Jurd’s ground-breaking band Dinosaur will take us into the Chris Barber Band and an evening of cabaret seated jazz with his ten-piece ensemble.

Sunday will have fun for the family with Family Jazz All-Stars and How To Make The Words Dance with Pete Churchill.

Sunday Afternoon Jazz in the Crypt will see performances by Later with Jools Holland star Hailey Tuck, AuroraThe Ushaw Ensemble and The Printmakers featuring ECM recording artist singer Norma Winstone.

The Jazz Weekender finale will be performed by the Mingus Big Band who picked up a Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album in 2010.
The 14-piece band is known for ‘sheer melodic and rhythmic and structural originality’ according to the New Yorker.

  • Full details and tickets for all shows including Roller Trio are available from Middlesbrough Town Hall Box Office on 01642 729 729 or www.middlesbroughtownhall.co.uk

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