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

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: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Northern Edge Coffee, Silver St., Berwick. 7:00pm.
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: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.

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, December 11, 2018

Gigs/CDs of the Year coming shortly...

It's that time of year again when we ask you to send your favourite gigs and CDs of 2018.
Look forward to your lists. Either add them as a comment or email me.
Lance.

6 comments :

Russell said...

Gig of the Year: Mingus Big Band - Middlesbrough Jazz Weekender
CD of the Year: Jo Harrop - Songs for the Late Hours

Peter said...

CDs of the year
Flat Earth Society: Untitled #0
AKA Moon: Now
Roberto Ottaviano: Eternal Love

Gig of the Year: Enemy at Cheltenham Jazz Festival

Roly said...

Two great gigs -
Graeme Wilson Quartet (CD launch) at Jazz Café.
Mick Shoulder Quintet at Blaydon in November.

Christoph said...

CD of the year
Johannes Enders: Endorphin
Julian Siegel Quartet: Vista
New York Standard Quartet; Heaven Steps to Seven

Steve T said...

Like the sound of that: Heaven Steps to Seven; I'll presumably be needing one of those.

Very difficult this year; difficult to get down to ten, and had I left it til tomorrow, it would have likely changed:

10. Triptych @ Fox, Hexham, 11th Sept.
9. Seun Kuti @ Sage, Gateshead, 2nd May.
8. Kamasi Washington @ Cheltenham Jazz Festival, 6th May.
7. Tower of Power @ Cheltenham Jazz Festival, 6th May.
6. Zappatistas @ Pizza Express, Soho, 31st Aug.
5. Nigel Kennedy @ Cheltenham Jazz Festival, 5th May.
4. Francis Tulip Quartet @ Globe, Newcastle, 5th Aug.
3. RNCM plays Zappa @ Manchester Met, 30th Nov.
2. Zakir Hussain/ Dave Holland/ Chris Potter @ Edinburgh Jazz Festival, 22nd Aug.
1. Stanley Clarke @ London Jazz Festival, 20th Nov.

Tony Eales said...

Top ten gigs of the year

1) Mass in Blue - Will Todd - Durham Cathedral
2) Skeltr - Durham Jazz Festival
3) Jazz across Europe 4 - GIJF
4) The Sun Ra Arkestra - GIJF
5) James Morrison - Wigan Jazz Festival
6) James Morrison - Durham Gala Brass Festival
7) Jo Harrop - Ushaw Jass Festival
8) Stan Sulzmann's Neon Orchestra- Scarborough Jazz Festival
9) Mingus Big Band - Middlesborough Jazz Weekender
10) Sue Ferris Trio - Opus 4, Darlington

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