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

Monday, August 24, 2020

Live stream @ Ronnie Scott's - Polly Gibbons w. James Pearson Trio - August 24

Polly Gibbons (vocal); James Pearson (piano); Tom Mason (bass); Saleem Ramon (drums).

Remembering Polly's knockout gig with SSBB at Hoochie back in 2018, I looked forward to her live stream at Ronnie's. I checked in at Facebook - briefly - before, along with other disgruntled punters, we made our way to the warm, inviting arms of YouTube.

Polly was on stage, exquisitely gowned and trainered, singing Don't Be on the Outside. I remembered this as a bonus track from her album Is It Me? - It was her alright and, once I'd wiped the traces of F/b off my shoes I settled back to enjoy a splendid session. I sighed when the camera angled to shoot from James Pearson's left hand. In the distance you could see the very bar stool where I'd sat so many times - I wanted to be sitting there tonight.


The songs rolled so beautifully off her tongue and from the fingers of the boys.

Your Love is Enough For me; Say, Will You Be Mine?; Oh What a Beautiful Morning; Comes Love - this was a killer! voice and bass intro, clever update to lyric: 

Comes a Covid you can quarantine a room, Comes a mousie you can hit it with a broom: Comes love etc. Some fab piano from Pearson - tell me what's new?

A little funky number was how Polly described A Little Funky Number which was an apt description. Saleem took a drum solo that threatened to last forever as drum solos often, and sometimes do. Half of the audience (when there is an audience) gasp in awe and the other half go to the bar.  Despite my decision to open a virtual can, I think it was maybe 60-40 pro Saleem.

Then came the clinchers - the extra time goals that move your team into Europe.

Prince's Nothing Can Compare to You was good, I Want a Little Sugar in my Bowl even sweeter and Anything Goes simply fantastic. This was the ball that hits the back of the net from 40 yards out!

Oh yes, and just to clinch matters,  a groove on Swanee River made sure the world wasn't sad and weary - at least the old folks at home in this house weren't!
Lance

1 comment :

Russell said...

Agreed - Comes Love was tremendous with Pearson's piano playing a match for anyone.

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