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

Monday, November 03, 2025

Album review: WDR Big Band featuring John Goldsby - Big Band Bass (Bass Lion Publishing)

Bob Mintzer (principal conductor, arranger, tenor sax); John Goldsby (double bass); Johan Hörlén, Karolina Strassmayer (alto sax); Paul Heller, Ben Fitzpatrick (tenor sax); Jens Neufang (baritone sax); Andy Haderer, Rob Bruynen, Wim Both, Ruud Breuls (trumpets); Ludwig Nuss, Raphael Klemm, Andy Hunter (trombones); Mattis Cederberg (bass, trombone); Billy Test (piano); Hans Dekker (drums) + Paul Shigihara (guitar tk 8); Xavi Torres (piano, tk 8); Stefan Pfeifer-Galilea (alto sax, tk 8); Jonathan Böbel, Phillip Hayduk (trombone tks 3-7)

Goldsby, a longtime cornerstone of the WDR Big Band, steps down front to feature the bass as more than just a vital part of the rhythm section. This is particularly noticeable on Dahlia Gardens where his full sound is almost a section in itself. He also composed seven of the eight tracks the sole exception being the opening Sonatinita (comp/arr Vince Mendoza).

Of the other seven, five were arranged by Bob Mintzer, one by Dave Horler and one by Michael Abene. They are all arranging masterpieces with sizzling solos from Nuss and Böbel on trombone. trumpet ace Breuls, altoists Hörlén and Karolina Strassmayer, pianist Test and tenors Heller, Fitzpatrick and Mintzer himself. The latter three have an almighty bebop tear-up on The Baron's Dilemma. Something else!

There may have been better big band albums but you'd have to dig deep into the vaults to find them and even then ... Lance

Release date: Nov. 7

Sonatinita. In the Hills; Blue Balloon; Kléopatre’s Secret; You Can Call Him Maestro; Dahlia Gardens; The Baron's Dilemma; Sergio

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