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

Saturday, June 20, 2020

Dress Up Saturday with Rico & Spats - June 20

Rico Tomasso (trumpet, vocals); Tom 'Spats' Langham (guitar, banjo, vocals)

There you are in your jogging bottoms. Look at the state of your t-shirt. Is that an egg stain? Honestly! Don't you know this is Dress Up Saturday? Take a look at Rico Tomasso and Tom Langham (pictured)...they made the effort, what's your excuse? 

Louis Armstrong is the constant in Rico Tomasso's twice weekly live stream, hence Rico's Popup Louis. Kicking off with Spats Langham on guitar, our duo played I Cried for You (an early twenties' number) with Rico taking a first vocal of the evening. Spats likes to sing a number and, from the early thirties, a rare number said Rico (Russ Columbo recorded it), Blue Evening with Rico's muted accompaniment. 

Tonight's ale said Rico (is the man angling for a sponsorship deal with a brewery?)...Timothy Taylor's Landlord. Time for a classic Armstrong number - Save it Pretty Mama. Four bars banjo, I think Rico thought out loud. Sure enough, Spats came in, remotely, of course, with Rico toting his 1933 balance action horn and singing a la Louis.

Taking a look at the screen in front of him, Rico scanned the many comments, picking out Mike Lovatt's contribution: Lovely to see you there, Mike said Rico as he recalled working with his fellow trumpeter on many a gig. This evening's final number was one Tomasso's father liked to play. Glancing at his notes Rico said to himself: How does this one start? Eight bars guitar, I think. And so it did with Spats setting the pace, challenging Rico to keep up, which, of course, he did. 

Next week - Friday and Saturday at seven -  Martin Wheatley returns and the plan is for the duo to play a Jabbo Smith set.   
Russell    
at

1 comment :

Patti said...

Rico's final number on the set - the one that his late father used to play regularly - was Fine and Dandy, from 1930. And the chaps certainly looked fine and dandy in their dress up outfits! Rico with a smart tux suit, and Tom resplendent in a tailcoat and a Kufi cap. Next week Rico's sessions will be with guitar and stringed instrument ace Martin Wheatley.

Saturday, June 20, 2020 8:25:00 pm

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