Bebop Spoken There

Ludovic Beier (Django Festival Allstars): ''Manouche means 'free man,' and gypsies have been travelers since they migrated west from India to Europe.'' (DownBeat March, 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

18383 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 247 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Mar. 17 ), 57

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

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Boys of Brass @ Hoochie Coochie - Dec. 22

Damon Britton (vcls); Steven Symonds, Rob McBurnie (tpts); John Rudkin (mellophonium); Chris Bentham (tmb); Phil Rosier (tuba); Phil Richardson (keys); Dave McKeague (dms); Beth Macari (vcl).
(Review by Lance).
Forget about the jazz! This was a hoot - a.k.a. entertainment! Covers of 1960's pop, lot's of motown, soul and funk and how many bands do you know that use a mellophonium? No saxes, guitars or double basses just brass, brass, brass, brass, brass, keys, drums and vocals.
Marvin Gaye, Wilson Pickett, Stevie Wonder, Stealers Wheel, Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson - just some of the legends recreated by Britton and Macari. Despite the five strong horn section there were few solos although the brassmen certainly made there presence felt in support. Richardson played piano standing up and McKeague played drums sitting down giving the band, any band he plays in, the required lift.
Britton and Macari shared the vocals both singly and duo-wise. Both gelled.
The Hoochie's crowded the floor for numbers such as I Heard it on the Grapevine; I Just Want to Make Love to  You; Superstitious; Mercy, Mercy, Mercy; In the Midnight Hour; Knock on Wood; Cry me a River; Fever; Stuck in the Middle With You; Ain't no Mountain Higher; All Night Long; Hard to Handle; She's So Fine; Blame it on the Boogie and a host of others - it was Radio Caroline revisited!
Quite a party and tonight we do it all over again with King Bee - same time, same station, same venue.
Photos.
Lance.

1 comment :

Patti D. said...

Oh yes - Brighton's Starlight club revisited for the night too! Just sorry I had to leave early for my carriage .......

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