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

Monday, July 14, 2025

Album review: Olivia Cuttill Quintet - Tunes to be Swingin'

Olivia Cuttill (trumpet, compositions); Issey Chivers (vocals); Tom Harris (piano); Josh Vadiveloo (bass); Miles Pillinger (drums) + Alex Fisher (tenor sax); Geoff Cuttill (piano on tk 7); Graham Cuttill, Isabella Cuttill, Maya Mitra, Sam Virdis (vocals)

October last year the Olivia Cuttill Quintet played a lunchtime gig at Newcastle Uni that made a big impression on those present. Many rated it as their gig of the year and I myself placed it way up high in the ratings.

Four of the five members of the quintet that played at the University are also present on this album with Josh Vadiveloo replacing Fergus Quill on bass and Alex Fisher coming in on tenor.

Intro to Busy. An unaccompanied trumpet solo that segues into Busy and Chivers' vocal. Cever lyrics centered around a woman's multi-tasking abilities. Melodic trumpet solo.

Show Biz Casino, a rockin', rollin' jump-jivin' swinger with tenor and trumpet walkin' the bar New Orleans' style.

Moanin' - Chivers gives Lee Morgan's solo a vocalese twist. She has the vocal range to do it. Olivia's trumpet blast is of Jazz Messenger's standard and Vadiveloo has some nice touches on bass.

Intro to There's a House Down by the Station. This is a strange one. Lot's of chat going on with a piano tinkling away. presumably Olivia's late grandfather Geoff.

There's a House Down by the Station: a nostalgic vocal, some trumpet before the vocal group join in for a Saturday night sing-song around the old joanna in the parlour. Yes, truly a strange one.

Linger For a While With the Sun. A beautiful lyric with a vocal by Chivers that is absolutely spellbinding. Magic!

I've Won the Lottery. Trumpet brings in a swingin' vocal followed by some nifty keyboard dexterity, unbelievable vocalese and a workout on the skins by Pillinger.

The Boogie Woogie Bug. The vocal group diagnose the whole family who appear to have caught the aforementioned bug: "My mother's got the bug, my sister's got the bug, my brother's got the bug..." get the picture? It must be contagious because I think that I've got it too!

Cryin' Time: Olivia plays the blues with lots of pathos over a 3/4 rhythm. Piano picks it up. The piano gives it a pre-talkies cinematic feel that is enhanced upon with Olivia's return.

If you were at that gig in Newcastle you will want to check it out. If you weren't then check it out as soon as it comes up on the freebie channels.

Release date is August 29 but, the day before (August 28) the Olivia Cuttill Quintet are featured at the Chapel Allerton Festival, Leeds. Lance

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