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

Tuesday, April 27, 2021

Ten British pianists who moved to America.

Ronnie Ball (1927 - 1984): Left for America in 1952. Played with Chuck Wayne, Kai Winding, Roy Eldridge, JATP, Buddy Rich, Warne Marsh, Art Pepper. More.

Victor Feldman (1934 - 1987): Left for America in 1955. Played with Woody Herman, Cannonball Adderley, Buddy De Franco, Mils Davis, Peggy Lee. More.

Dill Jones (1923 - 1984): Left for America in 1961. Played with Jimmy McPartland, Budd Johnson and other mainstreamers. More.

Marian McPartland (1918  - 2013): Left for America in 1945 after marrying trumpet Jimmy McPartland. More.

Ray Noble (1903 - 1978): Left for America in 1934. Formed big band that included Glenn Miller. Composer of Cherokee, The Very Thought of You, The Touch of Your Lips among others. More.

Joe Saye (1923 - ?): Left for America in 1955. Accompanied Dakota Staton and recorded with Barry Galbraith, Mundell Lowe, Herbie Manne and many others. More.

Ralph Sharon (1923 - 2015): Left for America in 1953. Long time accompanist (1958 - 2003) to Tony Bennett. More.

George Shearing (1919 - 2011): Left for America in 1947. Formed poll-winning quintet and recorded with many top singers such as Peggy Lee, Nat King Cole, Joe Williams and Mel Tormé. More.

Derek Smith (1931 - 2016): Left for America 1957. Many trio recordings, studio sessions,  toured with Benny Goodman, appeared at Newport with Dizzy Gillespie. More.

Eddie Thompson (1925 - 1986): Worked in America 1962 - 1972 including long residency at The Hickory House in Manhattan. Like Saye and Shearing he didn't allow his blindness to interfere with his career. More.

There were, of course, others most notably Dudley Moore although his success in America was as an actor rather than as a pianist. Sadly all of the above are now deceased. Are there any living Brits over there now making a name as a pianist?

Lance



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