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

Friday, January 22, 2021

Album review: Tricotism - Nostalgia

Craig Milverton (piano); Nigel Price (guitar); Sandy Suchodolski (bass).

Inspired by the early piano, guitar, bass trios of Oscar Peterson, Tricotism is much more than a mere cloning exercise, it's more a development of the format. Just as Peterson built on Nat Cole's pioneering efforts, so Tricotism have added their own take. The big difference being that this is a trio of equals rather than a leader and two sidemen. Interestingly, Peterson did revert to a more balanced trio with Joe Pass on guitar and Ray Brown on bass before returning to the piano, bass, drums set up.

It's the trio with Joe Pass that Tricotism most closely resembles and this they manage whilst retaining their own identity. Three musicians, comparable with any three on the world stage today, offer an enjoyable mix of standards, jazz classics, a couple of Peterson originals and one by Milverton himself.

Once upon a time just about every album included a ballad medley then, for whatever reason, they fell out of fashion - but now ballad medleys are back and very welcome they are too!

Nigel kicked it off with I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance With You. Sandy followed on with I Can't Get Started and Craig took it out with I Got it Bad and That Ain't Good. An absolute classic performance - and that applies to the whole album.

As a matter of interest, the album notes inform us that Craig was playing his prized 1922 Steinway grand piano (did he win it in a raffle?) they don't make 'em like that anymore!
Lance.


Nostalgia (Fats Navarro); Devil May Care; The Man I Love; L'Impossible (Peterson); Love Ballade (Peterson); Lullaby of the Leaves; Moon Alley (Tom Harrell); Ballad Medley; The Big Sleazy (Milverton); Superjet (Tadd Dameron). 

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