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

Tuesday, October 03, 2023

Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club - Oct. 2

Herbie Hudson (trombone, harmonica, vocals); Brian Chester (piano); Dave Percy (bass); Scott Adair (drums) + Brian Lynham (harmonica); Matty McElvogue (trumpet); Maureen Hall, John Broddle, George (vocals)

Harmony Brass doesn't quite do what it says on the tin. Week-to-week Herbie Hudson provides the brass (trombone) and unless a sitter-in brings along some plumbing parts (saxophone, trumpet, trombone) that's about it in the brass department. What you do get with the resident band - Hudson, pianist Brian Chester, bassist Dave Percy and drummer Scott Adair - is a right old mix of right old numbers. And then there's the sitters-in...

Harmony Brass opened with Louisiana, yes, it was a Monday afternoon on Cullercoats Bay. The place was busy, more than, perhaps they were there for the raffle. Basin Street BluesGee Baby, Ain't I Good to You?, all of the band vocals handled by frontman Hudson. How Can You Face Me?Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives to Me, the veteran Hudson kept the show moving along, sharing the soloist's spotlight with pianist Chester. The rhythm boys - Percy and Adair - didn't say much, in fact, they didn't say anything, preferring to get on with the job at hand.

My Mother's Eyes, featuring Brian Chester, prompted the mischievous Hudson to remind the audience they were listening to Richard Clayderman...Bobby Crush. Chester chose to ignore the jibe. In the run up to the interval and the much-anticipated raffle, No Time for Jive frontman Brian Lynham joined the party to play Georgia on my Mind. When's the last time two harmonicas featured on a gig? Probably the last time Lynham was down Cullercoats way.

The raffle came and went. The prizes going elsewhere. Resuming matters musical, Hudson sang There'll Be Some Changes Made. And, following that, some changes were made. Great to see Maureen Hall in the audience and, better still, our Rendezvous Jazz vocalist got up to sing a couple of numbers - Doctor Jazz and Ice Cream (the latter a vocal duet with the mischievous Hudson). The applause rang out.

Trumpeter Matty McElvogue joined the party to play Undecided followed by I'm Beginning to See the Light. Great stuff! Brian Lynham returned to regale all with Stormy Weather (sing along, now). If it's a Monday at the Crescent Club it's odds on John Broddle will put in an appearance. Sure enough, Mr B sang After You've Gone and a favourite of his and many in the audience, I'll See You in My Dreams. As the big hand approached three, it was rock 'n' roll medley time. It was time to go for the ever-unreliable Metro. Russell          

No comments :

Blog Archive