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

Thu 29: The Noel Dennis Band @ Prohibition Bar, Albert Road, Middlesbrough TS1 2RU. 7:00pm (doors). £10.84. Quartet plus special guest Zoë Gilby. Over 35s only. Rescheduled from December 4th.
Thu 29: Oh No Noh + Dan Coulthurst Quintet @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £16.45., £13.28., £12.22., £9.04. Coulthurst (trumpet); Joel Steadman (bass clarinet, flute); Nico Widdowson (piano); Fergus Quill (double bass); Theo Goss (drums).

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: 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: TBC.
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

Thursday, May 02, 2019

‘JAZZ ARTISTS OF THE YEAR’ TO HEADLINE FESTIVAL IN DURHAM

 PRESS RELEASE

DJAZZ : The Durham City Jazz Festival

Various venues
Durham City
June 7th - 9th
Tickets: £20 available from buytickets.at/djazz

A festival is bringing together an eclectic mix of regional, national and international musicians to Durham, including multi award winning artists at the cutting edge of jazz, and placing them in the city’s most iconic buildings.

Now in its 3rd year, DJAZZ: The Durham City Jazz Festival brings you an eclectic mix of contemporary and traditional jazz set against the backdrop of some of Durham's most intriguing venues. Highlights include 2 x MOBO award winner Moses Boyd who will be headlining at Redhills: Durham Miners Hall and 2018’s ‘Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year' Arun Ghosh, who will be opening the festival.


The festival brings a fresh perspective to the world of jazz, celebrating its vast and varied nature. The focus is to bring together a number of different musical styles, groups, networks and audiences in the small but perfectly formed city of Durham. At only £20 for a full weekend ticket festival-goers gain access to over 20 events ranging from intimate sets in hidden locations to big names in big venues! Think cafes, pop-ups and bars to venues and iconic historic buildings. This not only has the effect of pairing up acts with a unique environment but is part of the festival’s ambition to reach new audiences and get music lovers to try something new!

So one minute you’re watching multi-award winning Moses Boyd Exodus in the historic Durham Miners Hall, Redhills - and the next you’re in the 25 capacity Holy Grale for an intimate solo set.

The organisers encourage anyone who is interested in live music to engage with the festival, and not to be deterred by the term ‘Jazz’. The genre has enjoyed a huge resurgence over the past few years as we find ourselves now within a period of exciting UK revival.

Carlo Viglianisi says:
“Jazz can be quite a loaded phrase but the truth is, jazz as a genre can be traced through almost every form of music since the 1920s. At our festival you’ll hear everything from new straight ahead trios and bossa nova right through to grime and electro. You’ll definitely catch the best examples of Jazz as you think you know it, and jazz as you don’t know it”


Collaboration plays an important part of the festival not only in bringing musicians together but also by working with the local businesses to transform existing spaces into festival venues for the weekend.

Heather Spencer says:
“Not only will you see a diverse range of artists from a local, national and international stage but from all angles of the festival, we seek to create an environment that makes everyone welcome through our collaborative approach. We work with so many different partners, from local groups to student societies and small businesses to big organisations meaning we have no single core audience - DJAZZ is truly a festival for everyone.”

Taking place across multiple venues in the city audiences will experience jazz in all of its forms in a range of unique and intriguing venues.

The festival venues are:
     Durham Cathedral
     Redhills: Durham Miners Hall
     The Square at The Riverwalk
     Pop-up hub at The Riverwalk
     Pop-up jazz bar st The Riverwalk
     The Norman Chapel at Durham Castle
     The Holy GrAle

Featured acts include:
     Moses Boyd Exodus - 2X MOBO Award winner (link)
     Arun Ghosh - 2018 Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year (link)
     Paul Edis and Graeme Wilson - Durham Cathedral pipe organ and saxophone (link)
     Between Waves - Archipelago + Fran Bundey - Newcastle based genre-fluid trio featuring electronic vocal-looping artist Fran Bundey
     Ceitidh Mac - Cello, vibraphone/percussion, vocals, reeds and synths - blending alt-folk and mellow vocals
     The Nu Bossa Band - Porteguese father-daughter duo with stunning sax and percussion - music spanning the afro-cuban and latin tradition
     Kinesis + Paul Grainger - local drumming star Abbie Finn returns to Durham with her duo - then trio - showing the changing timbre of the music
     LoLanders - Collaboration between leading Scottish and Dutch jazz musicians - an exciting sextet of varied influences: Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Scottish and Highland tradition and the Asian diaspora
.
Full line up is at: https://djazzfestival.co.uk/

Contact:
Carlo Viglianisi
07787 144 894

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