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

Saturday, August 12, 2023

Just Friends @ Dorman's Jazz Club, Middlesbrough - August 10

Ian Bosworth (guitar); Richie Emmerson (tenor sax); Dave Archbold (keys);  Ron Smith (bass); John Bradford (drums).

After a most unusually perfect summer's day a good sized audience attending this jazz night were treated to a fine evening of modern jazz by this popular band.

Stanley Turrentine's Sugar was a nice number to warm up on, showing how well they all played together.

An up tempo Blue Bossa played over a samba rhythm, again with excellent drums and bass backing gave Richie on sax, Ian on guitar and Dave on keys plenty of opportunity to impress. Then, by way of contrast, the ballad When Sunny Gets Blue featured Richie with some wonderful soulful sax playing.

The Eddie Harris number Cold Duck Time with its funky rhythm was followed by a lovely version of Oliver Nelson's Stolen Moments. Based on a minor blues sequence it gave plenty of scope for some inventive solos by guitar, sax and keys.

John's drum intro kicked off an exciting Sonny Rollins' St.Thomas with solos all round including bass and drums. This was a crowd pleaser that brought the first set to a close and we couldn't wait for the second!

That second set opened with Nat Adderley's Work Song with it's fine sax intro and outro and also included a very tasty bass solo from Ron.

Herbie Hancock's Cantaloupe Island was swinging with solos all round including a great drum break from John. Back At The Chicken Shack was well played with some Jimmy Smith influenced keyboard work from Dave, another nice bass solo from Ron and great sax and guitar from Richie and Ian.

After the standard Sunny, the night concluded with a driving version of Put it Where You Want it by the Crusaders. It could be said that this was the best number of the night but that would be wrong - they were all good!

What better way to finish off a fine summers day than listenning to a good jazz group? Special thanks to John Bradford for standing in for Mark Hawkins on drums. The usual thanks also go to the staff of Dorman's Club for their help and support with the jazz night Ron Hampton

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