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, November 01, 2018

October Choices

Gig of the Month.
Mingus Big Band - Middlesbrough Town Hall - October 21.
Leo Richardson Quartet - Ronnie Scott's - October 17.
Black Swan Jam Session - October 30.
APPJAG Awards - Pizza Express, Holborn - October 16. (Probably my 'Gig of a Lifetime'!).

CDs of the Month.
Sarah Eden - Ailleurs.
Evelyn Laurie - A Little Bit of Me. 
Tony Bennett/Diana Krall - Love is Here to Stay.
Caroline Scott - Khoalesce.

The above listings show just how stupid these 'Best of things' are (Apart from APPJAG Awards) picking just one of anything is impossible and in some cases insulting to other artists! Nevertheless...
The MBB were outstanding at both Middlesbrough and Ronnie's. The Leo Richardson Quartet were equally brilliant in their support set at Ronnie's so I've split them. The Black Swan Jam Session last night was a benchmark for both players and venues.
So many CDs - some I don't even have time to listen to (another 6 arrived today) - so, it's often the case that, if an album misses the cut, it's no reflection on the disc but on my staying power which is why I'm always appealing for reviewers to submit reviews of albums other than their own. 
Naturally, this post is open so let's have your choices...
Lance.
at

3 comments :

Russell said...

Gig of the month - Mingus Big Band @ Middlesbrough Town Hall.

Thursday, November 01, 2018 3:41:00 PM
Steve T said...

Another quiet one for me with a brock arm for the second half of the month.

Brotzmann at Toons Lit and Phil on 6th was wonderfully powerful but brief, the two support acts interesting but not really my thing.

Jasdeep Singh Degun at the Sage' Northern Rock on 19th was the best Indian gig Mrs T and I have seen that didn't have Zakir Hussain on stage, but we only did part two cos I'd just come out of hospital a few hours earlier.

Still trawling through piles and piles of Soul Albums. You'd think I'd have heard them all by now - you'd be surprised.

Friday, November 02, 2018 2:24:00 PM
Steve T said...

And of course I rudely omitted Josh Schofield at Lescala in Sheffield, which clearly made Mrs T's diary, which obviously over-rules mine.

All three gigs (3?) were equally good in their own, very different ways.

Monday, November 05, 2018 12:42:00 PM

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