Bebop Spoken There

Jools Holland (on his 2026 spring/summer tour): ''With the mighty [R&B] Orchestra, our wonderful boogie woogie singers, and the brilliant Joe Webb opening the shows [including Darlington Hippodrome, June 19], we're in for some very special evenings of music.'' The Northern Echo February 5, 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

18263 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 117 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Feb. 6), 17

From This Moment On ...

February

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: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. St Thomas & Bésame Mucho. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 07: Side Cafe Oᴙkestar @ Café Under the Spire, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Table reservations: 0191 477 3970.
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.

Wed 11: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington.. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 11: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 12: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 13: Noel Dennis Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm . £9.00. Dennis (trumpet, flugelhorn); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 13: Joe Steels @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 13: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm.
Fri 13: Tom Remon & John Moriarty @ The Ship Isis, Silksworth Row, Sunderland SR1 3QJ. 7:00pm. £10.00 + £1.00 bf.

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

Saturday, September 06, 2014

Mica Paris @ Hoochie Coochie. Sept. 5

Mica Paris (vcl); Chris (keys); Kenny (gtr); ? (bs gtr); Mark (dms).
(Review by Lance.)
Another winner for Warren! Hoochie was a hotbed of heaving humanity last night as the most sensational soul singer I've ever seen strutted her stuff to the delight of us sardines - yes it was a capacity crowd!
I can't put a name to all the tunes - with Mica in such close proximity, at a time like this who keeps score?
How could I write whilst clapping, waving my arms and applauding?
Where is the Love? was one of the early ones - the love was all around the stage! I Put a Spell on You. PD reminded me that it was written and originally recorded by Screamin' Jay Hawkins although I'd always associated it with Alan Price and Nina Simone. From now on, it belongs to Ms. Paris. I Should Have Known Better, My Worst Temptation, You Make me Feel Brand New just some of the others.
This lady gives 100% and then some! A fantastic voice and a great stage presence.
Regrettably, I didn't catch all the band members' names - so if someone can help out please do so. Names or no names they were what I would expect from an act of this calibre. Keyboardist Chris produced piano and organ sounds as well as horn section-like riffs. Guitarist Kenny - not only a cool looking dude but an ace bluesman to boot. Bass guitar at the heart of things and drummer Mark laid down all the right grooves.
This was one for the book, one to tell your grandchildren about, one to tell the whole wide world about.
Come back again soon!
Photos. 
Lance.
PS: And when the lady asked for a high chair, guess who got it for her? The smile she gave me was worth the effort!

2 comments :

Ian Douglas (on F/b) said...

It was a great gig. If I'd realised it was you that gave her the chair I'd have said hello

Hugh said...

I too, didn't recognise the caped crusader who passed her the chair. Though even if you had said hello, Ian, Lance would have been unable to hear you!

It was a good gig, though I think it could have been better with slightly less amplifcation - Mica's voice was distorting in quite a few of the songs. There was however (I'm perhaps showing my age here!) a lot of audience noise (i.e. talking) to contend with during the music.

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