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, 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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