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

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.

Wed 11: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington.. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 11: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, 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

Tuesday, November 15, 2022

The Central Bar Sextet plays Kenny Dorham's 'Round About Midnight at the Cafe Bohemia @ The Central Bar, Gateshead - Nov. 14

Pete Tanton (trumpet); Sue Ferris (tenor sax, flute); Giles Strong (guitar); Alan Law (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); John Bradford (drums) + jam session: Steve Summers (tenor sax); Ian Douglas (alto sax)

At long last an audience turned up at one Tyneside's best sessions. The Central Bar Quintet (this evening working as a sextet) guys have kept plugging away and they received just reward with a full house there to listen to a selection of numbers from Kenny Dorham's Blue Note album 'Round About Midnight at the Cafe Bohemia. Pete Tanton as Dorham, Sue Ferris as JR Monterose, Giles Strong as Kenny Burrell, and the rhythm section, Alan Law as Bobby Timmons (no pressure!), Mick Shoulder taking the role of Sam Jones, and drummer John Bradford as Arthur Edgehill. 

Straight in, no messing, KD's Blues. Solos all - first Pete, then Sue, followed by Giles, Alan, Mick and John. Excellent stuff. And played to a crowd! Vernon Duke's Autumn in New York (Sue out), the Gershwins' Who Cares?, the session on Half Moon Lane is the one you really  shouldn't miss. A blazing Royal RoostMy Heart Stood Still taking it down, A Night in Tunisia taking it up and out. Yes, Half Moon Lane, second Monday in the month, it's the only game in town.

A jam session followed, with sitters-in, too! Sue Ferris called My Romance, Steve Summers Manhã de Carnival and Self-Portrait in Three Colors - hey a proper jam session! And then a first timer, meet Ian Douglas. Playing alto sax, our man opting to play a funky Georgia. Toe dipped into the world of the jam session, let's hope Ian gets along to the Black Swan's fortnightly session. Next month's Central Bar session will be on Monday 12th December. It's a prompt 7:30pm start, pay a fiver at the downstairs bar (get yourself a pint), then head up to the first floor, it's free admission if you plan to sit-in. Russell 

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