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

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.

Sat 07: The Big Easy @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club.
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: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
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.

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 05, 2021

Rico's Popup Louis approaches its first anniversary! - Mar. 5

Rico Tomasso (trumpet, flugelhorn, vocals); Joe Webb (piano)

Rico began this week's Popup Louis with a few words about the death earlier this week of Chris Barber.  Time to introduce this evening's guest, pianist Joe Webb. And it was down to Joe to count off the opening number. At its conclusion Rico conceded it had been taken at quite a tempo! Slowing things down a touch, Joe swung Just Squeeze Me as Rico deployed what he described as his Louis-style plunger 'assemblage', taking a vocal chorus for good measure. 

One from Armstrong's Oscar Peterson session, Let's Fall in Love, with, as Rico flagged, a nice intro from Joe. And so it was, Oscar P with a little bit of Erroll Garner's instantly recognisable style. A great player is Joe. Rico spoke once again, this time at length, about Chris Barber, recalling a few deps he did when Pat Halcox wasn't available, and of his days on the road as part of Acker Bilk's band in the hugely popular Barber, Bilk and Ball touring show. To remember Barber, indeed all three bandleaders, Rico (and Joe) dedicated When I Grow to Old to Dream to the Three Bs. 

Time for Rico to pick up his flugelhorn to play Let's Fall in Love, sticking with the more mellow horn for Benny Carter's When Lights Are Low (composed with Spencer Williams way back in 1936). Louis and Ella, Stars Fall on Alabama, Rico on flugelhorn and vocals.  

Turning to Benny G, Rico thought it an idea to play something from the King of Swing's big band days, Don't Be That Way, Joe taking an old school saloon bar 'you hum it son' solo, Rico digging it, in return replying with a tremendous solo of his own. Louis and Ella, Stars Fell on Alabama, Rico again on flugelhorn, taking a vocal with perhaps a hint of Teagarden in there with the Louis vocal. Time to go with I Know That You Know.    

Next week Rico has a gig! Up in Scotland, no less. So, our man is giving himself the week off from the world of the live stream. The following week (March 12) Rico returns, working in the company of guitarist Simon Picton. 

Russell

Set list: Just You, Just Me; Just Squeeze Me; Let's Fall in Love; When I Grow to Old to Dream; Don't Be That Way; When Lights Are Low; Stars Fell on Alabama; I Know That You Know

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