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, April 05, 2023

Gavin Barras Quartet @ the Railway, Stockport - April 4

(© Jeff Pritchard)
Gavin Barras (bass guitar); Sam Lightwing (tenor sax); Jamada Roberts (keys); Tim Franks (drums).

This gig was listed in the April flyer as by Ed Kainyek but for some reason Ed did not appear so Gavin Barras took over the band-leading duties and announced the tunes. Tonight Gavin played bass guitar instead of upright bass due to having back problems and was sitting on a stool to the right of the bandstand. Making their debut at this venue were two musicians new to me and doing a first class job, tenorman Sam Lightwing and keyboardman Jamada Roberts.

A few minutes into the opening number Tenor Madness I knew this was going to be an enjoyable night, the chemistry was apparent even though the replacements had only been called at very short notice. There was no pre-arranged set list. After each tune there was a short chat about what came next and I must say I liked their selection which included compositions by Sonny Rollins, Jerome Kern, Juan Tizol, Horace Silver and Kenny Dorham. Plenty to interest the audience which, although smaller than usual, responded with enthusiasm especially in the second half.


The regular jazz fans were in attendance but also some people whom I had never seen before seemed to like what they heard and there was some whoopin’ and hollerin’. The standard On the Sunny Side of the Street was well received and Sam Lightwing really nailed it. He has a sound on his sax which made me think of the late great Charlie Rouse especially during the second tune tonight Stella By Starlight. Sam told me he is a big Dexter Gordon fan and that’s something I always like to hear.


Regarding Jamada Roberts, the word exceptional springs to mind. He was inspiring the whole room and he did not put a foot wrong. The rhythm section did everything to make the gig memorable and a big hand to Gavin Barras for his work on bass guitar.


The next jazz night at the Railway will be on Sunday April 9 with Dean Masser. Mike Farmer

 

Tenor Madness; Stella by Starlight; All the Things You Are; Some Day my Prince Will Come; Blue Bossa; Caravan; Song For my Father; Sunny Side of the Street; My Favorite Things; I Got Rhythm; St Thomas.

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