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: 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.

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

Wednesday, August 19, 2020

SSBB Crowdfunder launch to raise funds for three new albums!

(Press release)

The most asked question at our shows by audience members is: "do you have any CDs?"

With this crowdfunder we want to make some new recordings that will be a great addition to your music listening. So, we're aiming to produce three brand new CDs across the next 18 months... each with its own distinct flavour.

In the pipeline already was a “Strictly Smokin’  sings Ella Fitzgerald with Alice Grace” however Covid-19 has meant we’ve had to cancel our studio dates meaning it’s top of our list to get into the studio.

This album will be ten tracks that paint a broad picture of Ella’s career — we’re working with an exquisite string section to make sure this recording is as lush as we can possibly make it.

Number two on our list is a disc which takes in a section of our tour through the iconic image: “A Great Day In Harlem”.

We had such an amazing opening show at Gosforth Civic Theatre last April that we feel this music deserves recording within the context of the image and to have its story told through the narrative of the musicians who composed and performed.

And finally, disc number three: Strictly Smokin’  & Friends”.

This is the most ambitious of them all and a record of the amazing friendships we’ve developed with some of the UKs finest and most prolific jazz musicians and vocalists.

Each track will feature one of the amazing guests which we have brought to Newcastle — already confirmed: Mike Lovatt, Mark Nightingale, Hailey Tuck, Alan Barnes, Bruce Adams and Joe Stilgoe with more to follow.

The entire CD will be made up of brand new music and arrangements, created to spotlight the incredible musicianship of these jazz greats.
There is no doubt that these are ambitious projects with an ambitious goal - but we hope you'll be able to support us.

We have structured the rewards in our crowd funder to essentially be advance purchases of the albums. A download will cost £8 and a CD will cost £10 once they are produced - if you can support us by purchasing in advance we can throw everything we've got at these sessions and produce the best quality music and recordings, with the best jazz musicians in the region and the UK.
Of course, there are options to donate more significant amounts with rewards to match.
We can't wait to get into the studio, and for our audience to hear what we produce - they're going to be something rather special.
Video

3 comments :

Anonymous said...

:thumbs up:!

Patti said...

Yeah - this is such a super idea - and let's all us SSBB fans contribute whatever we can to support the band here!

Michael Lamb said...

Thank you Patti! 🎺🎺

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