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

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.

Sat 07: The Big Easy @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club.
Sat 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

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, May 07, 2025

Cumbrian Capers

Yesterday I took a trip on a train heading west - north west that is. The sun shone as the 10:23a.m. made its way from Newcastle Central through the rolling Northumbrian countryside into Cumbria and finally Carlisle.

It had been some years since I'd last visited the 'Gateway to the Lakes' and it seemed to have lost none of its charm. There were still pubs on every corner (and in between) although not all were open. 

Restaurants too abounded covering many cuisines - I even spotted an English one in England! However, I opted for a Hoisen Duck Wrap at an Asian/Thai establishment mainly because I hadn't a clue what the other items on the menu were. It was delicious.

The inner person's needs met, I set off on a round of the charity shops. There were a few shall I? or shall I not? moments with the latter moment winning the day even though it meant bypassing an item of current interest - the sheet music for We're Going to Hang Out the Washing on the Siegfried Line which was a wartime popular song recorded by the Two Leslies one of who was Leslie Sarony, father of singer and author Neville Sarony, a gentleman not unknown to BSH via his association with Ned Kelly's in Hong Kong and the Crescent Club in Cullercoats.

Eventually, at a shop selling second hand CDs and LPs my journey bore fruit. No last year's fashions or jigsaws with missing pieces to impede my progress, just music all the way. 

After much perusal and some pleasant banter with the owner I left clutching five albums in my sweaty palms - all at a quid a piece. My day's work done!

The Woody Herman album is a strange one. A mainly live recording by the 1949 band (the second Herd) there are discrepancies between what actually happens on the disc and what the sleeve claims happens! The notes refer to Gene Ammons playing Pennies From Heaven - not on my turntable! Lemon Drop is listed as track one Side B when in fact it is track 6 on Side A. 

There are other anomalies none of which detract from a very swinging album. Bill Harris' trombone feature on I Only Have Eyes For You and Don Lamond's work out on Don Delves In are highlights along with Woody's alto on I Cover the Waterfront and his clarinet playing on various other tracks.

More later. Lance

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