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

Wednesday, January 29, 2025

Press release: NN North Sea Jazz Festival 2025 reveal the first wave of artists for this year's festival

The NN North Sea Jazz Festival, the world’s largest indoor music festival, has revealed the first wave of artists for its return to the Ahoy Centre in Rotterdam this July. Taking place from Friday July 11 to Sunday July 13, 2025, this year’s event will feature a star-studded line-up of international talent alongside the most celebrated up-and-coming artists spanning jazz, blues, soul, pop and more.

Amongst the 30+ artists announced today are a multitude of jazz heavyweights including 4x Brit Award-nominated Ezra Collective, vocal sensation Samara Joy, virtuoso guitarist Julian Lage, Armenian-born pianist-composer Tigran HamasyanKurt Elling & Yellowjackets celebrating Weather Report, boundary-pushing Israeli trumpeter Avishai Cohen’s Quartet, multi-award-winning singer Jazzmeia Horn, Lionel Hampton Big Band featuring Jason Marsalis, Snarky Puppy alumni Robert “Sput” Searight and Nate Werth’s fusion outfit Ghost-Note, and a sparkling array of visionary US saxophonists including Kamasi WashingtonImmanuel WilkinsBranford Marsalis and Lakecia Benjamin.

This year’s program is anchored by Jacob Collier, the festival’s 2025 Artist in Residence. The six-time Grammy winner will perform across all three days, presenting unique and varied shows that reflect his dazzling musical versatility.

A selection of stars from across the worlds of soul, blues, pop and beyond will also grace the North Sea stages in 2025 with this year’s line-up featuring the likes of Lady BlackbirdMadeleine Peyroux, Jorja SmithAnoushka ShankarJordan RakeiMaxwell, and blues-rock guitar maestro Joe Bonamassa with the Metropole Orkest.

Full line-up to date is below and additional names will be announced in due course.

Attracting around 80,000 music fans annually, the North Sea Jazz Festival has earned an unrivalled reputation since its debut in 1976, having hosted legendary artists over the years such as Miles Davis, Prince, Ella Fitzgerald, Amy Winehouse, and Adele to name but a few. This summer the festival will feature more than 1,000 musicians across 150 performances and 15 different stages. With Rotterdam just under an hour’s flight, a direct train from London St Pancras, or even a ferry trip from multiple UK locations, the North Sea Jazz Festival is easily accessible, making it an ideal weekend getaway.


NN North Sea Jazz Festival 2025 – Rotterdam Ahoy Centre

Friday July 11:
 Avishai Cohen (trumpet) Quartet, Branford Marsalis Quartet, DeWolff, Ezra Collective, Jacob Collier (artist in residence), Jordan Rakei, Judith Hill, Julian Lage, Madeleine Peyroux, Omah Lay, Victor Ray

Saturday July 12: Aja Monet, Fujii Kaze, Ghost-Note, Jacob Collier (artist in residence), Joe Bonamassa & Metropole Orkest, Jonathan Jeremiah, Lionel Hampton Big Band featuring Jason Marsalis, Mary Halvorson Amaryllis Sextet, Maxwell, Naomi Sharon, Samara Joy

Sunday July 13: Anoushka Shankar, Immanuel Wilkins Quartet, Jacob Collier (artist in residence), Jazzmeia Horn, Jorja Smith, Kamasi Washington, Kurt Elling & Yellowjackets celebrate Weather Report, Lady Blackbird, Lakecia Benjamin, Thee Sacred Souls, Tigran Hamasyan

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