Bebop Spoken There

Christian McBride: ''We knew back in the day that Emmet [Cohen] had it.'' (DownBeat July, 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

18767 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 631 of them this year alone and, so far this month (July 31) 95.

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

From This Moment On

August

Mon 03: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 03: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Tue 04: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 05: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 05: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 05: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 06: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 06: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 06: Wild Women of Wylam @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 06: Jeremy McMurray’s Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Feat. guest Zoë Gilby.
Thu 06: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Thu 06: Bridget Metcalfe Sextet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 07: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 07: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 08: ???

Sun 09: 58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00-3:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Ropner Park, Stockton. 2:00-4:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: The Gambling Janes @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Tuesday, October 19, 2021

Emma Johnson’s Gravy Boat seek your Newcastle recommendations ahead of tour.

(Press release)

Peter Whittingham Award winners Emma Johnson’s Gravy Boat are setting sail this Autumn on their first national tour, performing music from their debut album Worry Not which was released to great acclaim in July of this year.

Supported by funding from Arts Councils England, the tour will see the cinematic jazz quintet return to cities including Newcastle and Wakefield, and branch out to London, Birmingham, Sheffield and more, to perform their blend of melodic, accessible jazz influenced by film scores, hard bop and contemporary European jazz.

Ahead of their performance at The Globe on the 28th November, Gravy Boat are asking local folk, audience members and other artists to share their favourite places in Newcastle. From the comfiest coffee shops and the best record stores to cultural landmarks and favourite food spots, the group are looking for recommendations of where they should visit whilst on tour, ideally accompanied by a story about what makes it special to you.

These places and stories will be woven amongst music from the band and live footage to create a digital tour guide to Newcastle, which will be shared in the New Year. To be a part of this project, you can either share your place on social media with the tag #mymusiccity or email voice notes, pictures or text to emma@johnsonmusic.co.uk This callout for places was launched on Instagram in a ‘Gravy Boat Guests’ episode with Newcastle musician Faye MacCalman (Archipelago, John Pope Quintet) and will run up until the group visit Newcastle to perform at the end of November.

Tickets here

Latest single video here

Emma Johnson: 07976 528099 

emma@johnsonmusic.co.uk/ www.johnsonmusic.co.uk/epk

Lineup: Emma Johnson – Tenor Saxophone/ Fergus Vickers – Electric Guitar/ Richard Jones – Piano /Angus Milne – Double Bass/ Steve Hanley – Drums

Recent press quote: "Emma Johnson and her Gravy Boat are one of the most refreshingly imaginative and perfectly configured acts in contemporary Jazz. Surely they will be occupying bigger platforms very soon". Neil March

2 comments :

Lance said...

Well Emma, I don't do coffee shops but I do know music shops. J.G. Windows Ltd. in the Central Arcade near Monument Metro has been around since 1908. Instruments, accessories, sheet music, CDs etc. I worked there for x years and just about anyone who was any one (or their roadies) looked in. Many local musicians have, over the years, worked there. Put it on your bucket list. See you at The Globe.

Emma Johnson said...

Hi Lance,
Thanks so much. Will be returning on a week day in the New Year to check this place out - sounds brilliant!
Really appreciate you sharing our call out and tuning into the gig on Sunday. Was lovely to play.
Hopefully catch you soon! Emma

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