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

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.

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 Community Hall. 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.

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, April 26, 2019

Preview: Pepperland @ Newcastle Theatre Royal - April 26 & 27

(Preview by Russell)

American choreographer Mark Morris brings his acclaimed Dance Group to Newcastle this weekend. For two nights only - Friday and Saturday - the NYC-based company will perform Pepperland at the Theatre Royal and, what's more, there is a jazz connection of sorts which should be of interest to BSH readers.

Pepperland was created to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the classic Beatles' album Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band receiving its premiere performance in - where else? - Liverpool in May 2017. Since then Morris' work has garnered five star reviews and this Tyneside two-nighter is the final opportunity for a British dance audience to catch it before the company stops-off in Dublin on its way home to Brooklyn to prepare for a coast-to-coast American tour.

The jazz aspect? Well, the name Ethan Iverson will be familiar to fans of the jazz trio format. The Bad Plus forged a path for contemporary (piano) trios and, after many years, pianist Iverson quit the hugely popular trio to pursue other projects. One such was to write original material and re-score several Beatles' numbers including A Day in the Life, When I'm Sixty-Four and Penny Lane for Pepperland. At the Theatre Royal Iverson will be directing a seven-piece NYC ensemble which includes one or two familiar 'jazz names' including DownBeat poll winner Sam Newsome (soprano sax). The instrumentation includes the theremin (Rob Schwimmer) alongside more conventional jazz instruments - piano, trombone, percussion and Clinton Curtis' vocals.

Tickets for Pepperland are selling fast. To book your seat(s) call the Theatre Royal box office on 08448 112121. The two performances - Friday and Saturday, 7:30pm - will be of one hour and fifteen minutes duration (approx) without an interval.     
Russell 
at

1 comment :

Steve T said...

Do hope there's still some left for me.

Friday, April 26, 2019 8:39:00 am

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