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

Fri 30: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 30: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 30: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 30: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 30: Pete Roth Trio @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). Feat. Bill Bruford.
Fri 30: Jive Aces @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm.
Fri 30: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Northern Edge Coffee, Silver St., Berwick. 7:00pm.
Fri 30: Dan Coulthurst Quintet @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £10.00 + £1.00. bf (www.wegottickets.com). Coulthurst (trumpet); Joel Stedman (bass clarinet, flute); Nico Widdowson (piano); Fergus Quill (double bass); Theo Goss (drums).

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.

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, March 26, 2021

Rico's Popup Louis Anniversary Special - Mar. 26

(Screenshot by Russell)
Rico Tomasso (trumpet, cornet, flugelhorn, trombone); Michael McQuaid (reeds); Martin Wheatley (guitar, banjo); Andrew Oliver (piano); Nick Ball (drums); Analucia Tomasso (vocals) 

Hot Fours, Fives and Sixes, a Blue Seven, Louis, Red Allen, Bix and Bunny, yes, an anniversary special. It's one year since Rico Tomasso first ventured into the weird and wonderful world of the live stream. And, most weeks during lockdown(s) Rico has been there, Fridays at seven o'clock. 

(Screenshot by Russell)
Assisting Rico this week, Bunny Berigan, Henry 'Red' Allen, Louis Armstrong and Bix Beiderbecke (see black & white photo, top left, clockwise). Hot Fives to begin with My Heart. In truth, the four legends were present in spirit only, those actually providing the backing to Rico were modern day greats (see colour photo, from the left, clockwise) Messrs Andrew Oliver (all the way from Portland, Oregon!), Michael McQuaid, Nick Ball, Rico, a mystery trombonist and Martin Wheatley.  

Red Allen, Patrol Wagon Blues, Rico singing, Fireworks with Nick Ball's bock-a-da-bock' intro, stomping piano by Oliver and excellent ensemble work from the 'Five'. Bix Beiderbecke time, time for Rico to pick up his cornet to play Blue River. From Bix to Bunny Berigan's version of Davenport Blues, Rico back on trumpet, the 'boys' of the orchestra recreating a a swing band feel, McQuaid's swinging clarinet solo. McQuaid doubled on tenor to fill out the sound on I Can't Get Started. To close, a marvellous story about Rico's parents meeting Lil Hardin in Paris! Rico's daughter Analucia Tomasso joined Rico and co to sing Harlem on Saturday Night. It had been quite a celebratory evening.           
Russell

Set list: My Heart; You're Next; Patrol Wagon Blues; Fireworks; Blue River; Davenport Blues; I Can't Get Started; Harlem on Saturday Night.       
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2 comments :

Mike Farmer said...

About three years ago I was in Melbourne Austrailia and my son and I went one Sunday afternoon to the Emerald Bistro to have a meal and hear some jazz. There was a very good tenor player who was called Michael MacQuaid playing with the house quartet. I had a brief chat with him during the interval and he told me he sometimes plays in the UK.

Sunday, March 28, 2021 12:44:00 pm
Russell said...

Mike, the very good tenor player Michael McQuaid is a multi-reeds virtuoso and he's been resident in London for some time. Indeed he is co-director of Mike Durham's International Classic Jazz Party. If you're interested, this year's event, near Whitley Bay, is scheduled to take place Nov 5-7. The festival website is: www.whitleybayjazzfest.com.

Sunday, March 28, 2021 2:39:00 pm

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