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 29, 2021

Rico Tomasso remembers Keith Nichols - Jan. 29

This week's Popup Louis paid tribute to Keith Nichols. Rico Tomasso's planned duo session with Ewan Bleach changed somewhat upon the sad news of the death of Keith Nichols. Fellow musicians and friends of Keith, Tom Langham and Martin Wheatley, offered their services, making this evening's session a quartet affair.

Tribute or not, a few technical glitches momentarily delayed the start. Rico wanted to crack on with a couple of numbers. First, Tears, following up with Papa de Da Da (Bleach soprano sax, Langham on banjo). Thanks to multi-tracking, Bleach played soprano sax, bass sax and piano on Midnight, the Stars and You (later in the set Bleach would go on to play several other instruments!) with Langham singing. Rico unearthed a recording of Keith Nichols introducing (and playing piano on) The Mooch, Rico playing Cootie Williams' trumpet part.  
More Keith, this time singing She's Perfect for Me (Wheatley, guitar). A spritely Shake It and Break It (King Oliver recorded the number) with Wheatley playing banjo, Lena from Palesteena (from way back in 1920) featuring Langham's vocals and impressive banjo playing (voice and instrument perfectly balanced using nothing more than a mobile phone!) and, with time pressing, on to a favourite 'go-to' number of Keith's putting Rico in the spotlight - Thanks a Million (Langham guitar, Bleach, tenor sax). Of course, our host sang it: Thanks a million (Keith)And to finish, Rico, á la Armstrong, with daughter Analucia singing Some of These Days.                
Russell

Set list: TearsPapa De Da DaMidnight, the Stars and YouThe MoochShe's Perfect for MeShake It and Break ItLena from PalesteenaSome of These Days. 

Rico Tomasso (trumpet, cornet, vocals); Ewan Bleach (clarinet, bass clarinet, C-melody sax, soprano sax, tenor sax, baritone sax, bass sax, piano, vocals)Tom 'Spats' Langham (banjo, guitar, vocals); Martin Wheatley (banjo, guitar), Analucia Tomasso (vocals) + a recording of Keith Nichols (piano, spoken introduction, vocals) 

1 comment :

Mike710 said...

A wonderful tribute to Keith Nichols by a few of the many musicians who regularly played in his bands.

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