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 Steadman (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, August 13, 2021

Preview: Newcastle Jazz Festival (Saturday 14)

Day two of this year's Newcastle Jazz Festival features a jazz vocalist, a blues shouter, guitarists contemporary and Manouche, and a charismatic Yorkshireman blowing up a storm in a trombone-organ-drums trio. Tyne Bank Brewery on Walker Road to the east of the city centre is a big barn of a place, the ideal place to practice your social distancing skills.*  

Alice Grace opens the day's programme at 1:30pm in the company of guitarist Pawel 'Pav' Jedrzejewski playing original material with perhaps a couple of GASbook numbers for good measure. Birmingham Conservatoire graduate guitarist Francis Tulip brings in his  quartet to play a post-bop session. County Durham based Francis will be working with pianist Tuoyo Awala (friends from their student days), Archipelago's bass man John Pope and drummer John Bradford. At 3:50pm (that's about three beers in) Mick Shoulder will tip his hat to Django et al with Swing Manouche - Mick (pictured) and Giles Strong (guitars), Paul Grainger on string bass duties, and the revitalised Gavin Lee on reeds (Gavin was in scintillating form last weekend with Rendezvous Jazz).

JASMINE Quintet is Jasmine Whalley's Leeds based outfit playing a set of original material. This Jazz North Northern Line gig features saxophonist Whalley alongside Ben Haskins, guitar, George MacDonald, keyboards, bassist Owen Burns and drummer George Hall. 

The penultimate session, but in effect the day's headline act, is Dennis Rollins' supercharged Velocity Trio featuring the amazing Ross Stanley at the organ, and the equally amazing drummer, Pedro Segundo. Dennis, from Doncaster, is an inspirational character and, if dancing is permitted, the audience will be up on its feet. Closing out the second day will be Tyneside's Empress of the Blues, Mo Scott. No one belts out the blues like Mo. Pint sized but with a killer punch, Mo always brings in a killer of a band.

* Here's the thing...Saturday is SOLD OUT! In the event of returns, keep on checking the festival website at: www.newcastlejazzfestival.co.uk. All is not lost, some tickets are available for Sunday, the third and final day of the festival. Book now or risk missing out! Russell        
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