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

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.

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 Community Hall. 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.

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 10, 2020

Livestream @ The Globe; Emma Fisk's Hot Club du Nord – August 9

Emma Fisk (violin); Bradley Johnston (guitar); David Harris (guitar); Bruce Rollo (bass).

‘My favourite Django number'
‘Can’t find the emoji for foot tapping'
‘All super solos and so crisp and together'
‘Brilliant! Really enjoyed your performance. Thank You’

And so the review is written for me by those who enthused in the comments box, and every word of it is true. A wonderful hour of lively, virtuoso music, danceable and romantic by turns. Many of the classics of gypsy jazz such as Coquette, Swing 42, Minor Swing; tunes such as Blue Drag (the drag was a popular dance of the 1920's); jazz songs such as Ain't Misbehavin'; It Had To Be You; Undecided …

There were a couple of other tunes that I can't name because I tapped the computer in error and doubled back on the performance at one point. I did wonder why Emma was repeating some of her warm, friendly chat, then it dawned. I must mention the superb rendition of  A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square, beautiful tear-jerking violin from Emma and a great solo from Bradley, who was deputising for James Birkett, who has had a DIY incident of some sort. We wish him well.

Bruce did his stuff well on his always dependable bass, and I noticed some of the slapping style of playing which is also used in rock and roll. Fascinating. And all rounded off by the encore Nuages, more great violin and a skilled solo from David Harris this time.  

Seventy or so households were tuned in from all over the place, an expat in Michigan USA, someone from Suffolk, besides local people and names that I recognised from my other world of folk music. Gypsy jazz appeals to both jazz and folk fans perhaps more than any other type of jazz.

Emma deserves a mention for her enthusiastic introductions to tunes and her attention to the comments box, where she was greeted by many friends recalling previous gigs and anniversaries. She lastly gave profuse thanks to The Globe and the Jazz Coop for arranging these livestreams, well deserved thanks.
Ann Alex

1 comment :

EmmaFiskJazzVio said...

Many thanks for the review Ann! We really did have a wonderful time playing at The Globe last night. We had no idea what it would be like to play in a venue without a live audience and I think we were all surprised by how very enjoyable and sociable it was!
I imagine that even once live shows are possible again this will be something that will continue to make shows accessible to a wider audience.
Well done The Globe/ Jazz Co-op!
Emma x

Blog Archive