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Bebop Spoken There

Stan Woodward: ''We're part of the British jazz scene, but we don't play London jazz. We play Newcastle jazz. The Knats album represents many things, but most importantly that Newcastle isn't overlooked". (DownBeat, April 2025).

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

17923 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 244 of them this year alone and, so far, 91 this month (March 31).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Tue 01: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Mark Robertson.
Tue 01: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 02: Lauren Bush: The Jazz Singer’s Toolkit @ The Pele, Corbridge. 1:00-4:00pm. Vocalist Lauren Bush with pianist Jamil Sheriff presents a jazz singing workshop. £40.00. (inc. evening concert, see below). Registration required for workshop: www.laurenbushjazz.com. All ability levels welcome.
Wed 02: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 02: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 2:30-4:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Wed 02: Lauren Bush & Jamil Sheriff @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00-9:00pm. £10.00. Concert performance. Tickets: www.laurenbushjazz.com.
Wed 02: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 02: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE! See website for updates: www.theglobenewcastle.bar.

Thu 03: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Women in Jazz.
Thu 03: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 03: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. A Tees Hot Club promotion. First Thursday in the month.

Fri 04: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 04: Ruth Lambert Quartet @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Fri 04: Tom McGuire & the Brassholes @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00.
Fri 04: Nicolas Meier’s Infinity Group + Spirit of Jeff Beck @ The Forum, Darlington. 7:30pm.

Sat 05: Tenement Jazz Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 05: Sleep Suppressor @ Head of Steam, Newcastle. 5:30-6:00pm.
Sat 05: King Bees @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Raymond MacDonald & Jer Reid @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 6:00-9:30pm. £7.72., £1.00. (minimum donation). MacDonald & Reid + Objections + Yotuns.
Sat 05: Jeff Hewer Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Kamasi Washington @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. £33.00.
Sat 05: Vermont Big Band @ The Seahorse, Whitley Bay. 7:30pm. Tickets: £10.00 (from the venue).
Sat 05: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 06: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 06: Learning & Participation Showcase @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm (1:00pm doors). Free. Featuring participants from Play More Jazz! Play More Folk! Blue Jam Singers & more.
Sun 06: Joe Steels Group @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00. Ferg Kilsby, Joe Steels, Ben Lawrence, Paul Susans, John Hirst.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ The Hooch, Quayside, Newcastle. 6:00pm.
Sun 06: Leeway @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 07: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. 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

Saturday, May 16, 2015

Nick Pride and the Pimptones @ Hoochie Coochie - May 15.

Nick Pride (gtr); Keith Nicholson (tpt/flug/triangle); Al Saxon (alt/fl); James Brown (bs gtr); Oz Cassidy (dms); Beth Macari (vcl).
(Review by Lance).
And I thought Hoochie was loud on Thursday - brother you ain't heard nuthin' yet! In truth, I doubt if I'll ever hear anything again!
I jest, yes it was loud, but not, after a couple of London Prides, unbearable. In fact it was brilliant - London Pride works well in these situations. I'm told Pinot Grigot also does the business!
A mix of soul, funk, ska, reggae, rock, blues and jazz - yes jazz! I read, somewhere  or other, that the Pimptones' jazz content was minimal but - take it from me - when these guys blow they are blowing jazz irrespective of the surface genre.
That they put a whole lot of showmanship into the act doesn't detract at all from the fact that they are doing what musicians have been doing for time immemorial - entertaining their public. When music ceases to be entertaining - as well as meaningful (is there a difference?) - then maybe I'll just die of boredom.
No chance of that tonight. Hoochie was crowded, the band were groovin', New singer Beth looked good in the tightest fitting LBD I've seen in many a long year spent looking at tight fitting LBDs. Complemented by hair whose colour was as fiery as her strident voice, Beth strutted her stuff with attitude. You've heard of Howlin' Wolf? Well this was Howlin' She-Wolf - bring it on!
Not that this was a one person show - this was a jamboree where everyone pimped. Leader Pride, no relation to the aforementioned London Pride, played a whole lotta guitar with some occasional country creeping into his jazz/rock licks. The two horns, Saxon on flute and alto, Nicholson on trumpet and flugel, blew for England although the latter sounded more like his roots were in New Orleans rather than Hebburn whilst the former was surely conceived on 52nd Street.
Cassidy on kit provided the drive - Formula One drumming - and dep bass James Brown (how appropriately named) didn't get many solos but, when he did, he was right on the money.
From the opening Come and Get It to the "final" Nothin' But the Good Times we came and got it and had nothin' but good times!
In between, the horns did the Soul Food Strut, blowing a path through the crowded floor, Massive Attack's Unfinished Sympathy had Beth in top gear and one number, I forget which, had Nicholson standing on a bar stool blowing for gold. Man, that guy doesn't need a stool to hit top C!
There was so much more happening but already my typing finger is getting tired.
So, catch them on a gig (which could be anywhere in Europe) or check out their CDs.
Lance.
PS:Nice to meet up again with Helen who isn't called Val! 

1 comment :

Unknown said...

The 2 of us Leicester City fans, spending a night in Newcastle before our game today at Sunderland, were very glad we chose Hoochie Coochies for our evenings entertainment. A fine band and a fine venue. Thank you Pimptones for a great gig!

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