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

Saturday, May 22, 2021

KSTV: The MJQ - May 22

(Screenshot by Ken Drew)
David Mrakpor (vibes); Giacomo Smith (clarinet); Noah Stoneman (piano); Daisy George (double bass); Will Cleasby (drums); Gabriella Swallow (cello)

Bach's Cello Suite No.3 played to a real, live audience! No, you're in the right place, this was cellist Gabi (Gabriella) Swallow introducing this evening's Kansas Smitty's MJQ session, moving from the baroque into John Lewis' Delauney's Dilemma. At its conclusion, raucous applause! Live music is back! 

(Collage by Ken Drew)
Autumn in New York, as a feature for Giacomo Smith on clarinet, how good was this?! Drummer Will Cleasby handing most of the announcements, said of Vernon Duke's Autumn New York that it was a masterful piece of writing - quite so. Mal Waldron's Warm Canto departed from the MJQ repertoire to feature cellist Gabi (as Ron Carter on the Waldron recording), pianist Noah Stoneman and David Mrakpor, vibes.

Kansas Smitty's guest, Gabi Swallow, spoke of the contemporary relevance of Some Other Time in these pandemic times. Expressing regret Tony Bennett wasn't in the room to sing the song, our cellist played it as a trio piece accompanied by Stoneman and Mrakpor. To close, Milt Jackson's signature tune, Bag's Groove with excellent piano and drums solos, respectively Stoneman and Cleasby, and Daisy George laying down the swinging Percy Heath bassline.   
Russell

Delauney's Dilemma; Autumn in New York; But Not for Me; ?; Warm Canto; Some Other Time; Django; Bag's Groove. 
at

No comments :

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )

Blog Archive