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

Wednesday, January 16, 2019

River City Ride Again - as a quartet!

The word on the jazz grapevine is of a new monthly, Monday evening, jazz session starting on Monday, February 4, at the newly refurbished Beresford Arms in the picturesque village of Whalton, near Morpeth, in Northumberland.

The band will initially be a four-piece comprising Phil Rutherford on sousaphone, Keith Stephen on guitar/banjo, Bob Wade on trumpet and Gordon Solomon on trombone.
Initially. The repertoire will concentrate on pieces from the 1920s and 1930s, but the aim is to build up a program featuring Jelly Roll Morton compositions, as well as numbers from the recordings of the Original Dixieland Jazz Band.
The big advantage for the band is that they all live about 20 minutes from Whalton! And, since Gordon Solomon, Keith Stephen and occasionally Phil Rutherford have all been past members of the now (sadly) defunct River City Jazzmen, they have decided to name the band the River City Hot Four. Sessions will be on the first Monday of the month, starting at 8.30pm, and admission is free. The Beresford Arms has an excellent menu, real ales and a large car park. 
Lance.

PS: Not sure about public transport for those who don't live about 20 minutes from Whalton… but by car, 26 mins from Newcastle on the A696.

3 comments :

Anonymous said...

Very nice to have a New band on the scene. An expansion of live music
Good luck to all. Kindest regards Raymond Newton Double Bass player.

Ashington Jazz Club said...

The Beresford Arms is only 5 miles from Morpeth town centre and the B6524 is always well gritted in the winter time. The Beresford has always had a good reputation for food. Its similar to The Elephant in that the car park can be a problem in the winter - something to be aware of. Unfortunately its not on a bus route. For those travelling by car the post code for the sat nav is NE61 3UZ. Anyone want a lift from Ashington/Morpeth? Get in touch on 01670 813983

Friends in jazz John Taylor (Ashington Jazz Club)

Don't forget its the same day as Ashington Jazz Club so why not take in both gigs and enjoy a day out in mid Northumberland. 2 of the most northerly jazz venues in the UK. I see the monthly gig in Berwick is still going.

Lance - How do I get 300 characters as requested outside the box on here on the comments page ?

Lance said...

300 characters? Don't understand the question. Not confusing Blogger with Twitter which we're networked with (I think)?

Blog Archive