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

Monday, August 28, 2023

Ferg Kilsby Quartet @ Queen's Hall, Hexham - August 27

(© Russell)
Ferg Kilsby (trumpet); Joe Steels (guitar); Andy Champion (double bass); John Hirst (drums)

The latest in Joe Steels' monthly Sunday afternoon sessions featured soon-to-be-departing local lad, Ferg Kilsby. Trumpeter Ferg is shortly to embark upon an adventure of a lifetime. Halls of residence sorted, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, London beckons. This afternoon, leading a band at such a young age must have be a daunting experience, leading a band of A-listers must have be something else! 

(© Russell)
Two sets comprising jazz standards and original compositions, Ferg was joined by the aforementioned Joe Steels (guitar) plus Andy Champion (bass) and our trumpeter's fellow Tyne Valley resident, drummer John Hirst. Smart company, indeed. Opening with Herbie Hancock's Eye of the Hurricane, this was Ferg the storm chaser, no fear! 

Three of Ferg's as yet untitled compositions made the cut, the first of them an audition piece for the Royal Academy School of Music. Our bandleader candidly revealed he wasn't offered a place at the venerable institution. It's the Royal Academy's loss, Trinity's gain! John Coltrane's ballad form Lonnie's Lament showed us just what Ferg can do - tremendous! 

(© Chris K)
Cole Porter's What is This Thing Called Love?, Tadd Dameron's Lady Bird, Kenny Wheeler's Omno, three varied charts, each handled with aplomb by Ferg and his A-list sidemen. Introducing Beatrice, little did Ferg know, some years earlier, in the adjacent cafe, the great tenor saxophonist Lewis Watson conjured up a magical take on Sam Rivers' much loved number. Lewis, Ferg, who'll be next to play it here at Queen's Hall?

A couple more original numbers, a couple of standards dating from the '30s, trumpeter Ferg covered the waterfront. It goes without saying that Joe, Andy and John were the business, we'd expect nothing less, but, let's be honest, the day belonged to Ferg Kilsby. Russell        

Set list: Eye of the Hurricane; Untitled (1)*; Lonnie's Lament; What Is This Thing Called Love?; Ladybird; Omno; Beatrice; Untitled (2);  If I Love Again; Untitled (3); You're My Everything.    
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