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

Saturday, May 27, 2023

Album Review: Ellie Martin – Verdant

Ellie Martin (vocals); Peter Eldridge (piano, background vocals 10); Ariel Kasler (guitar 1, 4,6,7,9,10); Kurt Khranke (bass); Olman Piedra (drums, percussion); Keith Ganz (guitar); Victor Gonçalves (accordion 3); Andrew Bishop (clarinet 1); Ben Wolkins (trumpet 7); Mike Harrison (background vocals 2)

An album of original songs based on the singer's life experience. This includes surviving cancer, bringing up children, watching them play, and not taking anything for granted.  Ms Martin, after a successful career in academia, decided to follow her dream of recording an album.

The singer has a PhD in Jazz Studies and is currently the vocal jazz instructor at the Universiy of Toledo and at Toledo School for the Arts. She has performed at Pittsburgh Jazz festival, the Sunset Jazz Festival, Michigan Jazz Festival and sung with the National Arab Orchestra in Texas. She has performed alongside the likes of Esperanza Spalding, Jon Hendricks and Afro Blue. Ms Martin is currently touring in the Midwest.

The CD covers bebop, Latin grooves, ballads and swing. The voice is light, warm, with a soprano tone verging towards a musical theatre sound which, to my ears, isn't ideal for jazz, but is generally good. The lyrics are interesting and articulate, and the instrumentalists are well up to the mark, as on most of these albums which feature a singer.

The album opens with the lively percussion of a samba, portraying her daughters at play, including a neat clarinet solo and background vocals. There follows a slow ballad with a close harmony duet with Mike Harrison; then comes a sensuous tango with drums and accordion. Never Will I Worry which concerns divorce, was a little too dramatic for my taste and Renewal, which is about the natural world, gives us a welcome bass solo and skilled, rich, ensemble playing.

Steel Eye City is a hard bop swinger with some pleasing scat. The piano flows on Verdant and the CD is neatly rounded off with Moments, which was written after the death of her grandfather, about the memories of love which are left behind after such a death.

The album is well worth a listen and is available in store or online.  Ann Alex

Living For the Now; As Time Goes; Dancers Serenade; Never Will I Worry; Love Somehow Will Heal; Renewal; Steel Eye City; Verdant; Lucianita; Lady Liberty; Step Into Your Essence: Moments

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