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

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.

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 Community Hall. 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.

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, December 31, 2024

Lest we forget ...

This is one End of  the Year listing that is always difficult to post. From a personal point of view, 2024 has been a  particularly difficult year for me.

Jazz people who left us in 2024:

Jan. 29: Dave Murphy - Legendary north east bass player.  

Jan. 30: Marlene Liddle - My dearly beloved wife and inspiration (see photo).   

Feb. 1: Gordon Marshall - Top north east lead trumpet player. 

May 6: Bill Holman - Top American arranger and saxophonist.    

May 22: Glenn Cartlidge - Outstanding north west guitarist.      

July 10: George Davidson - Drummer with Rendezvous Jazz. 

July 19: Brian Ebbatson - Huge supporter of north east jazz.

July 22: John Mayall - Legendary British blues legend.

Aug. 24: Ann Alexander (Ann Alex) - BSH reviewer and good friend.

Sept. 5: Martin France - British drummer and educator who died too young.

Sept. 7: Dan Morgenstein - American jazz critic, historian etc.

Sept. 8: Zoot Money - Legendary British blues legend.

Sept. 17: Tony Haynes - Leader of Grand Union Orchestra.

Sept. 21: Benny Golson - American tenor sax legend.

Sept. 27: John Cram - Local accordionist, organist & friend.

Oct. 2: Tommy Weatherley - North east trombonist.

Oct. 15: Malcolm Armstrong - Pianist with various north east bands.

Nov. 3: Quincy Jones - The iconic producer, arranger, composer etc.

Nov. 5: Roy Cansdale - Highly respected Cumbrian based bassist.

Nov. 9: Lou Donaldson - Funky American alto saxist.

Nov. 13: John Broddle - Popular local jazz singer.

Nov. 20: John Prescott - Jazz-loving former Labour MP.

Nov. 23: Alistair Robertson - Jazz fan and founder of Hep Records.

Dec. 12: Martial Solal - Legendary French pianist and composer.

Dec. 13: Derek Ansell - Jazz writer, novelist, critic.

Dec. 15: Zakir Hussain - Indo-jazz maestro.

Dec. 28: Barre Phillips - Legendary avant-garde bassist.

My apologies to the friends, fans and families of anyone I've overlooked - it wasn't intentional. Lance

2 comments :

Mike Farmer said...

Another who left us was Anthony Pinciotti New York drummer who played frequently at Smalls and Mezzrow. I heard someone talking about his passing during a podcast recently. This was confirmed by Spike Wilmer during his set at Mezzrow when he mentioned how devastated he was when he heard the news. Pinciotti was an important member of Spike’s trio. -Mike

Carstairs said...

A lot of lonely houses - personal and some I never met.

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