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

Monday, November 28, 2022

Sunday Night @ the Globe: Jamil Sheriff's Five Gold Rings - Nov. 27

(© Sheila Herrick)
Jamil Sheriff (piano); Richard Iles (flugel); Jim Corry (alto sax); Sam Quintana (bass); Caroline Boaden (drums).

Two gigs in two days that were not entirely dissimilar. Saturday night at Sage Gateshead was excellent and last night at  the Globe ran it close.

Five fine instrumentalists playing Sheriff's original compositions. Jazz musicians, by the demands of their art are on the spot composers and whilst some take those improvised moments and, over time, hone them until they become formulaic others take their inspiration from outside sources. With Toussaint at Sage Gateshead it was his siblings and with Sheriff his opening number, Going to Church, was inspired by a painting of the same  name by the American artist William H. Johnson (1901-1970). 

(© Ken Drew)

Red Kite had some Birdlike alto from Corry whilst Speed Aware was an out and out swinger featuring Boaden on drums. The set closed with Spiral Into Control.

The two horns combined well and it was good that Iles played flugel rather than trumpet making for a nice mellow sound that blended well with the alto.

I didn't catch the first two titles of the second set (one of which wasn't announced) but the third, a contrafact of Like Someone in Love renamed Love Someone had a boppy 1950ish Blue Note feel with the two horns trading fours.

I don't suppose Hartlepool has been the source of many jazz compositions so tonight may have been a first with Canoe John Darwin. Inspired by the Hartlepool man who faked his own drowning in a supposed canoeing accident it was, unsurprisingly, a dark composition that switched from 3/4 to 4/4 and back again.

(© Ken Drew)

The show closed with Bell's (Belle's?) Blues that had the horns going toe to toe, an amazing solo from Jamil, punchy drumming from Caroline and impressive bass playing from Sam - who had been solid throughout - brought a most enjoyable evening to a close. Lance


PS: I'm not sure of the significance of the band's name.

No comments :

Blog Archive