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: 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

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Calvert and the Old Fools @ Dormans Jazz Club, Middlesbrough - November 7


Sam Calvert (drums); Richie Emmerson (tenor sax); Andrew Medowcroft (piano/vocals); Tony Wood (double bass).
(Review by Ron H)

This month’s guest band, featuring a quartet formed from local musicians new to Dormans (apart from Richie), gave the audience a first class night of entertainment.

Up tempo versions of Almost Like Being In Love, A Foggy Day and Louis Jordan's Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby, got things underway. All had excellent sax solos from Richie as well as Andrew showing his skills singing, playing fine piano and displaying great feeling for the music.


The band then settled down to play Have You Met Miss Jones? Tony started When Sunny Gets Blue, with a nice bass intro to a tight arrangement full of excellent dynamics.

Another ballad, My Funny Valentine, included fine sax and piano solos and vocals once more by Andrew.

In complete contrast a rhythmic and swinging Night And Day, featured a drum solo from Sam and a vocal by Andrew to wind up the first set.

The Way You Look Tonight, opened the second set with a terrific sax solo from Richie which was followed by a Tom Waits blues, New Coat of Paint.

Love Me or Leave Me, and the classic Georgia on my Mind, were followed by my favourite of the night, Donald Fagen's Walk Between the Raindrops, nicely sung in the Mel Tormé style by Andrew.

More Tormé style vocal with How Long Has This Been Going On, showed how well the band played together.

A rhythmic version of On The Street Where You Live and then No Moon At All with a fine drum and bass intro by Sam and Tony and more great sax from Richie and vocals by Andrew finished the second set apart from the demanded encore - another fast version of Almost Like Being In Love, this time without solos.

An interesting and varied selection of numbers that was thoroughly enjoyed by the large audience.

With thanks to Dormans Club for their help and support with the weekly jazz night
Ron H.

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