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).

Photos.

Lance.