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

Sunday, August 24, 2025

Album review: Paul Harrison - Encontros (Harriphonic)

Paul Harrison (piano, melodica, synth.); Mario Caribé (bass, cavaquinho); Stuart Brown (drums, perc.) + Edmundo Carneiro (perc. 3-7,9,10); Laura Macdonald (alto sax 2,5,8); Rachel Lightbody (vocals 4,7,9); Fraser Fifield (low D whistle 7); Su-A Lee (cello 5,10)

A tribute to Egberto Gismonti, the renowned Brazilian composer who provided the material for ten of the eleven tracks.

The music is built upon the core trio of Harrison, Caribé and Brown with extra dimensions and colour supplied on various tracks by alto saxist Laura  Macdonald (Palhaço, Meninas, O Sonho); vocalist Rachel Lightbody (Lôro, Bianca, Illuminado); Cellist Su-A Lee (Meninas, Sete Aneis) and Fraser Fifield who blows a low D whistle on Bianca. Edmundo Carneiro not only provides authentic Latin percussion on seven of the tracks but also combines with Harrison to compose Transition.

On Karatê Harrison switches from  piano to melodica and shows the same dexterity as he does on a conventional keyboard.

In the blurb Harrison is quoted as saying that he decided to explore Gismonti's music because it offered so much more than just sambas and bossas. Sometimes there's a pastoral feeling about the music suggesting it's siesta time. At other times the siesta becomes the fiesta and nobody can party like Brazilians do at a carnival in Rio (or so I've been told!).

Not only that but there's also just a suggestion of Harrison's own Scottish heritage and the great man himself - Egberto Gismonti - upon hearing the album said: "...it has humour, has grace, has freedom to play.".

I'll second that Lance.

Release date: Sept. 5.

Ano ZeroPalhaço; Transition; Lôro; Meninas; Karatê; Bianca; O Sonho; Illuminado; Sete Aneis; A Fala Da Paixão

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