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

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: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. St Thomas & Bésame Mucho. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 07: Side Cafe Oᴙkestar @ Café Under the Spire, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Table reservations: 0191 477 3970.
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.

Wed 11: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington.. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 11: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, 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

Friday, July 17, 2020

Livestream: JazzMain - July 17

Nick Gould (tenor sax); Steve Grossart (piano); Iain Harkness (bass guitar); Kevin Dorrian (drums).

Much as I love JazzMain, I have to confess I came to this one feeling like a shell-shocked soldier returning from the trenches. Battle fatigue had set in. I mean, as much as I love jazz, there comes a time when you want to curl up with a good book and forget that music - any kind of music exists.

However, when a good friend of BSH - Nick Gould - beckoned and invited me to listen to his latest session I reluctantly made my way over to his Facebook page where JazzMain had just finished a half-hour set.


I rewound (so to speak) and we were off into Ode to Billy Joe. You remember Billy Joe?, he jumped off the Tallahassee Bridge in mysterious circumstances. Well the mystery wasn't solved here up in Edinburgh but one thing was sure this wasn't going to cause anyone to jump off the Forth Bridge - apart from maybe a few saxophone players.

Yes, despite having being sidelined for a while, the JazzMain team were on song. Next up was Duncan Lamont's Old Brazil. Lamont is remembered fondly as a sax player but often overlooked as a composer. This number put the matter straight.

Unlike some other "streamers", Nick doesn't go into chapter and verse on each and every number. He no doubt assumes that his audience know the score which is probably true, most of the time. However, although I recognised the last two tunes I couldn't put a title to them. 

It didn't matter, it gave me the lift I needed to face the 14 CDs that landed in the passage yesterday. When social distancing is lifted and I have friends round for drinks they're going to love the coasters and beer mats laid out for their drinks.
Lance.
JazzMain won't be among the coasters - they'll be on the player!

1 comment :

Nick Gould (on F/b) said...

Hi Lance, thanks for the review! the other tunes were Black Nile (Shorter)and saving all My love (Whitney Houston). I spoke to Paul the other day, I will come down as soon as the Tuesday nights are back on. All the best!

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