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

Fri 30: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 30: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 30: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 30: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 30: Pete Roth Trio @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). Feat. Bill Bruford.
Fri 30: Jive Aces @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm.
Fri 30: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Northern Edge Coffee, Silver St., Berwick. 7:00pm.
Fri 30: Dan Coulthurst Quintet @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £10.00 + £1.00. bf (www.wegottickets.com). Coulthurst (trumpet); Joel Steadman (bass clarinet, flute); Nico Widdowson (piano); Fergus Quill (double bass); Theo Goss (drums).

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.

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, June 04, 2025

Special Announcement: 'The Scottish Connection' 11 June (a gentle tribute to Brian Kellock)

(Press release):The gig this evening was originally intended to feature one of the great Scottish jazz pianists (and old friend of the Club) Brian Kellock, but sadly Brian passed away just two weeks before he was due to appear here. We are hoping to host a Memorial concert for Brian in the early Autumn but tonight we felt it was appropriate to celebrate Scotland’s vibrant jazz scene (of which Brian was an integral part) by hosting an evening featuring just some of the many fine musicians who hail from there and who knew, respected and admired him.

Born and raised in Edinburgh Fraser Urquhart  is one of the UK's foremost jazz pianists. Cutting his teeth on the vibrant Scottish jazz scene Fraser fast became a first-call player for singers and horn players, appearing often at the Edinburgh & and Glasgow Jazz Festivals. Now based in London his fluent and exciting playing has been heard at all the major jazz venues both in his own right and as accompanist to a host of high profile jazz musicians including most recently the Award winning Scottish vocalist Georgia Cecile. A close associate of Brian’s it is with particular pleasure that we welcome this fine player to the Club this evening.

Glasgow-born double-bassist Calum Gourlay has been a sought after UK jazz presence for almost two decades. An alumni of the Royal Academy of Music he has worked regularly with some of the finest modern jazz musicians in the UK, including the likes of award winning musicians Kit Downes & Trish Clowes. More recently he has also established himself as a highly regarded composer and arranger. 

Also from Glasgow, since graduating as a gold medal student from Trinity Laban’s prestigious jazz course the multi-award winning drummer Corrie Dick has garnered a host of accolades. He includes work with the likes of Laura Jurd, Jasper Høiby, Elliot Galvin and Rob Luft on a sparkling cv as well as establishing his own music with his various highly acclaimed projects, including a very well received debut album which was nominated for the Parliamentary Jazz Awards' “Album of the Year”. More recently he has been impressing with his captivating solo shows which feature not only his jazz sensibilities but his extensive knowledge of World Music forms and rhythms.

Joining the trio will be two terrific Scottish musicians who were closer contemporaries of Brian; the wonderful cornet/trumpet player Bruce Adams and the iconic guitarist Jim Mullen. Performing with the likes of Harry Sweets Edison, Buddy Tate, Al Cohn and Benny Waters Bruce has been a stalwart of the UK jazz scene for almost 50 years and is undoubtedly one of the finest mainstream cornet/trumpet players in Europe. The multi-Award-winning Jim Mullen is widely regarded as one of the finest jazz guitarists on the international jazz scene. He has toured and worked with an impressive range of artists, including Mose Allison, Jimmy Witherspoon and the Average White Band as well as being co-leader of the iconic jazz-funk band "Morrissey-Mullen". This promises to be a wonderful show in its own right, as well as a gentle tribute to one of Scotland’s master musicians.

“Urquhart…unfailingly elegant piano playing" Bebop Spoken Here; “Gourlay…his playing being both impressively agile…dexterous and highly melodic” The Jazz Mann; “Dick's playing is imaginative and sensitive to the players around him…[it] elevates and inspires” All About Jazz; “Adams…there is as much delicacy as power in his playing” Guardian; "Mullen…one of the great Jazz guitarists working today" Jazzwise

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Laura G Thorne
Marketing Manager,
606 CLUB

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