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

Thursday, May 01, 2025

Guido Spannocchi Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle - April 30

© Ken Drew
Guido Spannocchi (baritone sax); John Pope (double bass); Steve Hanley (drums)

Did you know it was International Jazz Day? UNESCO, founded in 1945, puts its weight behind the initiative, an initiative designed to showcase jazz to the wider world. There was the option of watching a livestream from Abu Dhabi (Herbie Hancock, Emmet Cohen and others) or getting along to the Globe for a triple bill culminating in a headline appearance by Guido Spannocchi. 

On the last day of April - the 30th (International Jazz Day) - the sun shone and so, the Globe it was. It just so happens, actually by design, Newcastle Jazz Co-op purchased the Globe on Railway Street on this very day eleven years ago. There have been many ups and downs over the years - memorable gigs, funding issues, unexpected repair bills etc - but this was a day to celebrate all things jazz. 

© Ken Drew
At around quarter past eight, Guido Spannocchi took to the stage almost exactly twelve months to the day when the Vienna-born, London-resident saxophonist made his debut here at Jazz Co-op HQ. A year ago Spannocchi played alto sax. We were expecting the same this evening, however, our man picked up a baritone sax. In the company of bassist John Pope and drummer Steve Hanley, GS would play two sets of original music. 

Last year we heard a quartet (Danny Keane's piano the chordal instrument) go to work on GS's tunes, this evening there was much space for the trio of Spannocchi, Pope and Hanley to make their mark: Pope's authoritative, distinctive sound to the fore, Hanley's creative accents and inventive patterns all the more prominent. All to the good. Spannocchi's facility on the 'big beast' impressed the select audience, at least two of the numbers were played last year - Uphill Blues and A Walkin Yoyogi Park - which enabled those present last year and this to compare and contrast the bandleader's approach and effectiveness on alto (2024) and baritone (2025). 

© Ken Drew
Earlier in the day (it was a mid-afternoon start) the early birds were in on a SH#RP Collective public rehearsal led by Lindsay Hannon, followed by a full set of modern jazz charts courtesy of several of the mainstays of the long-running weekly (Wednesday) Take it to the Bridge session. Russell       
at

No comments :

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )

Blog Archive