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: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. St Thomas & Bésame Mucho. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 07: Side Cafe Oᴙkestar @ Café Under the Spire, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Table reservations: 0191 477 3970.
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, July 09, 2022

Mouth of the Tyne Festival Day One - The Jazz Stage

It was hot, hot, hot and the music, the company, the weather, the food and the ale combined to make the first day of the Mouth of the Tyne Festival the place to be.

On the Jazz Stage, Zoë Gilby (vocal) and Mark Williams (guitar) entertained the gradually building crowd with their unique interpretations of standards and originals. Some may have bemused the predominantly non-jazz crowd but the applause at the end suggested that there were maybe a few converts. Unfortunately, the blinding sunshine and the darkened stage made taking photos a hit and miss affair so apologies - where's Ken or Malcolm when you need them?.

By way of complete contrast, the Vieux Carré Jazzmen - Brian Bennett (banjo); Jim McBriarty (clarinet/soprano sax/vocals); Lawrence McBriarty, David 'Showtime' Gray (trombone/vocals); Paul Grainger (bass); Paul Thompson (drums) - took us down to New Orleans with a boisterous selection of rags, blues and stomps from the early days of jazz up to the 1930s.

It was good fun with all three of the frontline sharing the vocals. Good also to hear Paul Thompson on drums. Son of the band's previous drummer Fred Thompson he did his dad proud although he has yet, unlike Fred, to unleash his vocal talents!

Next up was Harmony Brass - Herbie Hudson (trombone/vocals); Jim McBriarty (clarinet/sop sax/vocals); Brian Chester (keys); John Robinson (bass). This was more Dixieland than New Orleans and none the worse for that with Jim McBriarty providing the link. However, by this time the heat was becoming too much for me so I had to seek shelter in the shade of a nearby tavern for a hamburger and a cooling draught of ale so I didn't take notes although I seem to recall hearing Beale St. Blues and The Preacher.

I should have got back into the game for the Ruth Lambert Quartet but too much sun threatened to render me hors de combat so I reluctantly headed for home. Ruth - catch you next Sunday in Fenham. Lance.

PS: Doing it all again tomorrow! Same setting, different cast.

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