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

Wednesday, March 09, 2022

Jammin' @ the Black Swan - March 8

(Pics © Russell)
Stu Collingwood (keys); Paul Grainger (bass); Michael Mather (drums) + Stuart Turner, Ben Davies, Jacob Egglestone, Laurence Harrison (guitar); Abbie Finn, Bailey Rudd, Chris ?, Wilf Pease (drums); Will Reece, Patrick Cromb, Fionnuala Bradbury, Kit Giroux, Conor Polley (vocals); Esther Coombes (alto sax/clarinet); Ruby ? (flute); David Gray (trombone); Murray Wankling (piano); Adam Sams (bass clarinet); Edgar Bell (cornet) - there may have been others ...

They came and went with such rapidity that I soon gave up trying to keep score. Next time I'm going to wear shades, a false beard, drink lager and blend anonymously  into the background so I can just enjoy the  music!

Being International Women's Day it would ill become me not to mention the goils. Esther Coombes blew some nice clarinet and tasty alto on Mr PC (or should that have been re-titled Mr PG?) which was much appreciated by those of us sitting up front. A mic would have helped for those stationed further afield. Fionnuala Bradbury faced similar problems singing Someone to Watch Over me until David Gray came to the rescue and twiddled a few knobs allowing us to appreciate an excellent voice - remember the name.

Ruby played flute. I didn't catch her surname so, given the day of the week, I'll call her Ruby Tuesday. I didn't recognise the tune either but she got a good sound. Abbie Finn needed no introduction - we all know and love her - and she delivered.

It was a night that was awash with drummers, guitarists and singers. Some familiar, some new  to the scene and all, we trust, will be back.

The aforementioned David Gray blew some blistering trombone, guitarist Adam Sams opted, this week, for bass clarinet and Edgar Bell played cornet. There was so much more but space and time precludes further detail.

However, one person deserved of mention who was enjoying the music in a flamboyant fashion turned out to be no less a person than the son of Senegalese icon Youssou N'Dour. The vacationing Chicago resident showed his enthusiasm in no uncertain manner!

Next jam is on March 22. Lance

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