Total Pageviews

Bebop Spoken There

Sullivan Fortner: ''I always judge it by the bass player: If the bass player is happy, it's going to be a good night". (DownBeat, February 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

17777 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 98 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Feb.8).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sun 09: The New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 09: Glenn Miller & Big Band Spectacular @ The Forum, Billingham. 3:00pm.
Sun 09: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Tom Remon & Mark Williams @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 09: Rod Oughton’s Tomorrow’s New Quartet with Ben van Helder @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Line-up inc. Deschanel Gordon.
Sun 09: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 10: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 11: Steve Summers Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Jam session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 13: Student Performances @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 4:00pm. Free. Inc. Olly Styles (tenor sax).
Thu 13: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: Artist Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Hannabiell & Midnight Blue.
Thu 13: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 14: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 12:30-1:30pm. £5.00. at the door. New second Friday in the month concert series.
Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 14: Archipelago + Anna Tempest @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £8.00.
Fri 14: Paul Jones & Dave Kelly @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. Rhythm & blues.
Fri 14: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Fri 14: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 15: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 15: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 15: Elkie Brooks @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. ‘The Long Farewell Tour’.
Sat 15: Milne Glendinning Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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, February 13, 2016

Northern Monkey Brass Band @ Hoochie - Feb. 12

Graham Hardy (tpt/vcl), Alistair Lord (tpt); David Gray, Mark Ferris (tmb); Sue Ferris (ten); Phil Rosier (tuba); Brendan Murphy (bs dm); Russ Morgan (sn dm).
(Review by Lance).
They were hooching, they were cooching, they were romping, they were stomping, they were dancing, they were prancing they were having a ball - and that was just the audience! The band were also getting their kicks without hitting Route 66. This was the business, gut busting solos, tight ensembles, rocket fuelled rhythm. 
Take the traditional Tyneside song Waters of Tyne; it began flowing gently but ended up to become the Mississippi Delta at the height of the hurricane season.
This was just one of the highlights of which there were plenty! The publicity promised a Mardi Gras experience and that's what we got as the band paraded around the room! Why go to New Orleans when you can go to New Castle?
Rosier - the Cat Anderson of the tuba - was incredible whilst Murphy and Morgan were incredible plus! The horns bypassed the moon and aimed for distant galaxies with the Theme from Star Wars.
Singing comes with the territory for jazz trumpet players and Graham Hardy is a great jazz trumpet player. Sue Ferris, depping for Jamie Toms who was over at the Caff, may be a kitten offstage but stick a tenor  sax between her lips and she becomes a wildcat holding her own with the best of them.
Lord too had his moments on trumpet although he didn't sing. David Gray, the earthier of the two slidemen, and Mark Ferris the smoother, rounded off the front line. Both made invaluable contributions.
Even now, 11 hours later, I'm still on Bourbon Street (A.K.A Pilgrim Street).
Lance.

5 comments :

Anonymous said...

I agree 100% a night full of surprises; and all pleasant �� good to see a varied mix of ages on the dancefloor too.

Jumpin' Hot Club (on Twitter) said...

We very much concur.

Graham Hardy (on F/b) said...

Thanks for the great review Lance

Patti D (on F/b) said...

Yes - a fantastic review - and what a brilliant gig, Graham! More, please .....

Patti said...

Excellent repertoire too - great to hear a funked up Video Killed The Radio Star - that was a surprise!

Blog Archive