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

Thu 29: The Noel Dennis Band @ Prohibition Bar, Albert Road, Middlesbrough TS1 2RU. 7:00pm (doors). £10.84. Quartet plus special guest Zoë Gilby. Over 35s only. Rescheduled from December 4th.
Thu 29: Oh No Noh + Dan Coulthurst Quintet @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £16.45., £13.28., £12.22., £9.04. Coulthurst (trumpet); Joel Steadman (bass clarinet, flute); Nico Widdowson (piano); Fergus Quill (double bass); Theo Goss (drums).

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: 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: TBC.
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, August 18, 2025

Sunday night @ the Globe: The Milne Glendinning Band - August 17

© Sheila Herrick
Debra Milne (vocals, shakers); Steve Glendinning (guitar, backing vocals); Mike Clarke (bass guitar, backing vocals)

In the wider world of jazz Debra Milne is the mover and shaker when it comes to booking bands from near and afar to gig at the Globe. The multi-tasking Debra also organises the Jazz Co-op's AGM sometimes live, sometimes on-line, serves behind the bar and has a day job as a pathologist. On top of all that she sings and co-leads the Milne Glendinning Band. The jazz world needs people like Debra.

Her co-leader, Steve Glendinning, apart from being a fine guitarist also runs the Globe's educational jazz workshop programme.

Mike Clarke, although he doesn't feature in the billing provides solid support on bass guitar.

Debra, perched atop a high chair presented a well-balanced mix of standards, jazz classics and originals sung in her inimitable style with powerful guitar  chording from Steve underpinning the vocals.

Thus we heard: Don't Wait Too Long; Stella by Starlight, with an extended intro from Steve; a new (to me) Dusty Springfield number, Spooky; Perdido with Steve and Debra trading fours; The Saga of Harrison Crabfeathers which was followed by the first original.

It's never easy to judge originals upon first hearing. I always need two or three listenings before I make my mind up so I'll pass judgement on Am I Missing Something? and The Imposter.

I liked Don't Know Why and the hardboiled Red Right Hand - I'll have to catch up on Peaky Blinders.

The first set closed with the Ida Cox number Wild Women Don't Have the Blues. As regular visitors to BSH will know, Nancy Harrow's classic 1960 album of the same name is one of my all-time favourite jazz vocal discs so Debra had big shoes to fill - I doubt if even Samara Joy could!

The second set followed a similar pattern and included: Dance me to the End of Love; Where Are we Going?; The Nearness of You; Too Busy For Thinkin'; Stay; Everything is Gonna be Funky (w. backing vocals) and a blistering Caravan  which sent me homeward bound only to find my own particular caravan (Metro) was 39 minutes away - perhaps there were camels on the track. The 27 bus was also late so by the time I made it home I was the terrestrial version of jetlagged.

Still I'd had a pleasant evening. 

Next Sunday it's the Chris Coull Quartet with trumpet ace Coull, Joe Steels (guitar), Andy Champion (bass) and John Bradford (drums). Lance

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