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: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. St Thomas & Bésame Mucho. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 07: Side Cafe Oᴙkestar @ Café Under the Spire, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Table reservations: 0191 477 3970.
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

Monday, March 18, 2024

Freddie Garner Quartet @ the Railway, Stockport - March 17

(© Jeff Pritchard)
Freddie Garner (keys); Jim Collins (alto/tenor sax/flute); James Adolpho (bass); Phil Bennett (drums).

The Sunday night audience was a bit noisier than usual due to a few revellers celebrating St Patrick's day but it did not seem to bother Freddie who just keeps the bebop flame burning with his hard driving brand of modern jazz. There were lots of interesting numbers played by this excellent quartet including a tune called Little Bea’s Poem which was a flute feature for reed maestro Jim Collins who impressed me with his full sound achieved without the use of a mic. Who wrote this tune? I think it may be Woody Shaw but I could be wrong.


There were plenty of interesting moments during the evening including Sonny Stitt’s wonderful up-tempo flagwaver The Eternal Triangle,  Jim Collins really firing on all cylinders during his solo. You don’t hear many local combos tackle this one, it’s a real fingerbuster!  I also like Jim’s alto playing on the ballad When Sunny Gets Blue that reminded me of jam sessions back in the day and Charlie Parker was the main influence. Another number I thought went down well was the Latin flavoured Catalonian Nights often attributed to Dexter Gordon but composed by Tete Montolui. The final tune was Four and this contained some nifty drumming from Phil Bennett and agile bass work from James Adolpho. Well done all involved. 


There isn't any jazz on March 19 but on Sunday March 24 it will be guitarist Tom Ramon’s quartet featuring American guitarist Sid Jacobs.

 

Joy Spring; Jeaninne; Little Bea’s Poem; Softly as in a Morning Sunrise; When Sunny Gets Blue; Eternal Triangle; I Mean You; Time After Time; You Don’t Know What Love Is; Catalonian Nights; Four.

1 comment :

Patti said...

We'll be seeing guitar stars Sid Jacobs and Tom Ramon in Newcastle upon Tyne very soon as well. Sunday 31 March in that great little venue, the Prohibition Cabaret Bar - at 7pm ...... get there early to grab a seat!

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