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: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. St Thomas & Bésame Mucho. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 07: Side Cafe Oᴙkestar @ Café Under the Spire, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Table reservations: 0191 477 3970.
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

Friday, January 04, 2019

100 Years of Jazz Piano from the James Pearson Trio

(Press release)
The James Pearson Trio will play a fundraising concert ‘100 Years of Jazz Piano’ for the National Jazz Archive on Saturday 9 February, in Loughton, Essex.
Pianist James Pearson, with Sam Burgess on bass and Chris Higginbottom on drums, present a history of jazz piano, featuring Oscar Peterson, Fats Waller, Jelly Roll Morton, Erroll Garner, Bill Evans and many, many more.

James Pearson is a world-class pianist, composer and raconteur extraordinaire. He is the artistic director at Ronnie Scott’s Club where his trio are the house band. His fine piano playing and arrangements can be heard on over 50 albums. With collaborations ranging from Paul McCartney to Wynton Marsalis, James is one of the country’s most sought-after pianists.

Bass player Sam Burgess is a stalwart of the UK jazz scene. As well as playing on numerous film soundtracks, his driving bass lines can be heard accompanying bands of all styles.

Chris Higginbottom is one of the UK’s top drummers and is a member of the Kyle Eastwood band and the Ronnie Scott’s All Stars. A Royal Academy of Music graduate, Chris lived in New York for eight years where he played with many of the biggest names in jazz. He has performed all over the world and has released two albums as a leader.
James said: “It seems very appropriate to bring my trio to present a concert telling the story of jazz piano to help raise funds for the Archive, which itself covers the history of jazz. We’re looking forward to it!”

The concert will include a tribute to the late Brian Browning, in thanks and recognition for the generous legacy he left to the National Jazz Archive in his will. There will be a display of some of the photos he took at the East Side Jazz Club, Leytonstone over the years.

The concert is at Loughton Methodist Church, 260 High Road, Loughton, Essex IG10 1RB, close to the Archive’s home in Loughton Library, where extensive parking is available. The church and the archive are about a kilometre away from Loughton Station on the Central Line, and are also served by numerous bus routes. 
The concert starts at 2.30pm and tickets cost £15.
For details and to book tickets, visit https://www.nationaljazzarchive.org.uk/news-events, email events@nationaljazzarchive.org.uk or phone 020 8502 4701.

1 comment :

Russell said...

For those North East readers unable to make the journey south all is not lost! The Paul Edis Trio - Edis, Champion and Morgan will be playing their History of Jazz Piano set four weeks today (Feb 1) at the Gala Theatre in Durham, one o'clock start, admission £5. The Gala's monthly lunchtime jazz concerts invariably sell out in advance. Best to book now! Tel: 03000 266 600.

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