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

Friday, April 15, 2022

Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club - April 15

Olive Rudd (vocals); Jim McBriarty (alto sax, clarinet, vocals); Alan Marshall (tenor, soprano sax); Neville Hartley (trombone, vocals); Carl Peacock (keys); Alan Rudd (bass); Tommy Graham (drums).

How can I sit back and write impartially about this afternoon's seafront session at the CCC?

Firstly, I drew 3 prize winning numbers in the raffle although I did put the Easter Eggs back up for grabs and, secondly, Olive sang two of my favourite songs - How'd You Like to Love me? and I Wished on the Moon which was, in truth, better than winning the vintage (ish) plonk.

Classic Swing have a vast repertoire that is rarely repeated and, in Olive, they have a singer who can hold her own with anyone working her side of the street.

Not that Olive is the only one in the band who can hold a tune. Jim McBriarty, in between blowing clarinet or alto sax, invariably pops up to do a little crooning. This afternoon, amongst others, he delighted us with an obscure Glenn Miller number made famous by Helen O'Connell with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra - I'm Stepping Out With a Memory Tonight

And the vocals didn't stop there. When not blowing slide trombone à la Jack T, Neville Hartley sang like the old trombone master on yet another piece de obscurity - Barefoot Boy - possibly inspired by hearing it on an old Ken Colyer record. Neville and Olive also duetted on Trombone Cholly.

Alan Marshall didn't sing (maybe he's their secret weapon yet to be unleashed) but he blew some modern sounding tenor and soprano whilst Tommy Graham punctuated the percussion when the percussion needed punctuating and Alan Rudd avoided being despatched to the doghouse by ensuring that rhythm and harmony were on the money behind Mrs Rudd's vocals.

Carl Peacock, depping for Jeremy McMurray, slotted in nicely to make this a most enjoyable day at the seaside. Lance

Classic Swing; Back in Your Own Backyard (Olive); You Can Depend on me (Olive); Strike up the Band (Jim); Barefoot Boy (Neville); Blue Lou; How'd You Like to Love me? (Olive); This Can't be Love; You Were Meant For me (Olive); Trombone Cholly (Olive/Neville); I'm Stepping Out With a Memory Tonight (Jim); Tangerine; I Wished on the Moon (Olive); When You're Smiling (Olive).

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