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 Stedman (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

Sunday, August 11, 2019

SSBB News.

Watching the John Wilson Prom celebrating the film music that came out of the Warner Brothers studios from the 1930s onwards I couldn't fail to be impressed by the trumpet playing of Mike Lovatt and my first reaction was to think we need to hear more of this ace player.

Then, guess what? Alice Grace posts on Facebook announcing that this very same Mike Lovatt is appearing with the Strictly Smokin' Big Band at Sage Gateshead on February 29 next year. Put it in your diary now - last year's concert with Mark Nightingale was a sell-out and this one will be too - bank on it.

Incidentally, the John Wilson Prom was brilliant which will be of some comfort to those disappointed that he won't be making his annual visit to the Gateshead venue this year - listen here.
Lance

5 comments :

Liz said...

Yes I knew about Mike Lovett's gig in February from when I scanned the Sage upcoming events. He was superb, as were them all. It was 2 hours plus of sheer magic. Matt Ford, who can sing anything, sad, happy, romantic, he did it all. I especially liked his "Days of wine & roses". He has a sincerity about him. I must mention the Maida Vale singers, they just enjoy themselves so much. .The whole ensemble was a total credit to our man JW, a Gateshead lad, who takes his place beside the best in the world. He deserves his "year out" after a decade of Proms. We eagerly await his return at next year's Royal Albert Hall

NeilC said...

I concur , I missed the Prom live but I was so anxious to see it I watched it on catch up until 3 am on Saturday morning it was absolutely stunning and so enjoyable. I thought all of the singers were excellent but agree about Matt Ford. He was outstanding and his rendition of 76 Trombones from the Music Man was comedic and so well delivered, you could see he totally enjoyed delivering it .Mr Wilson is at the top of his game, his attention to detail is second to none . It is testimony to his skill and dedication that there is a queue of accomplished musicians who change their holiday plans to ensure they can play in his annual Prom .

NeilC said...

I was walking past Hoochie Coochie and spotted an advert for Claire Martin and the Strictly Smokin Big Band playing there in October. Are they the same or different version of the band, with Claire Martin as a guest or is this indeed Claire Martin's band , which just happens to have the same name . Apologies for my lack of knowledge in advance. Here is the link to the gig for anyone who is interested:-

https://www.hoochiecoochie.co.uk/event/claire-martin-the-strictly-smoking-big-band

Lance said...

Yes Neil it's the one and only SSBB with the one and only Claire Martin as guest vocalist. Over the years, SSBB and Hoochie have combined to book internationally acclaimed vocalists to appear with the band.
These have included Joe Stilgoe, Polly Gibbons, Hailey Tuck and now, perhaps the greatest coup of all, Claire Martin O.B.E.

NeilC said...

Thank you for clarifying Lance, I guess we will be hotfooting along there for tickets which I assume will sell like hot cakes . I imagine Mike Lovett won't be guesting but it will not detract in any shape or form from the quality of this gig

Blog Archive