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

18219 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 73 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 24), 73

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Sat 31: Darling Dollies @ St George’s Church, Jesmond, Newcastle. 3:00pm. £10.00. Vocal trio.
Sat 31: Brass Fiesta @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 10:30pm. Free.

FEBRUARY 2026

Sun 01: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 01: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Quintet + guest Bill Watson (trumpet, flugelhorn).
Sun 01: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: Annie & the Caldwells @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £25.00. adv. Gospel/soul.
Sun 01: Jive Aces @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm.
Sun 01: Olly Styles Experience + Jenny Baker @ the Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 02: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 02: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

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.

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, February 05, 2021

KSTV: Adrian Cox Plays Irving Fazola - Feb. 5

Adrian Cox (clarinet/vocals); Dave Archer (guitar); Daisy George (bass); Jas Kayser (drums).

(Screenshots by Ken Drew)

Irving Fazola was the subject of tonight's musical dissertation and who better to deliver it than another clarinet wizard - Adrian Cox. Over the past few months Adrian has delved into the music of many clarinet legends such as Omer Simeon, Albert Nicholas and Jimmie Noone on his "Sunday Sermons" which are live streamed at 1:00pm every Sunday lunchtime. These are usually done solo or with one other musician so it was a real treat to hear him tonight with three other top players.

New Orleans born Fazola had a short but very productive life - he died aged 36 - playing in many bands including Ben Pollack, Jess Stacy and, most famously, with Bob Crosby picking up two DownBeat awards as number one clarinetist in 1940 and 1941. 

Cox himself should surely be in the running for an award or two, for his playing maybe even for his singing but don't put your shirt on it.

The quartet kicked off with Alice Blue Gown. Not the dirge-like waltz version but an uptempo swinger that had everyone smiling - even behind the masks you could tell they were smiling.

Am I Blue? Great tune and Adrian's vocal didn't do it any harm. One of the telling points of this stream was Jas on drums. Fazola came from New Orleans so our gal drummed appropriately lots of press rolls, and other trademarks of the Crescent City had me imagining I was parading on South Rampart St. Her solo on Hindustan combining the old traditional feeling with the rhythm of today.

Dave Archer too was at the top of his game. Playing acoustic and he took some tastily chorded solos.

Daisy George was on the money on every number and when the call came she answered it to perfection.

Another gem from KSTV.
Lance.

Alice Blue Gown; Am I Blue? Clarinet Blues; Someday Sweetheart; Hindustan; Breeze; Sympathy; Pagan Love Song; Farewell Blues.

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