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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

17873 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 194 of them this year alone and, so far, 41 this month (March 14).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: The Great Deceivers @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Tom Atkinson & co play King Crimson (1969-1974). Atkinson (guitar); Josh Bentham (alto sax); Stu Dawson (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums).

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 25: Fred Wesley & the New JB’s @ The Cluny. 7:30pm (doors). £27.50. POSTPONED! New date Wednesday 26 November.

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Hannabiell & Midnight Blue @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 27: Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb blues duo.

Fri 28: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00 SOLD OUT!.
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm.
Fri 28: Sue Ferris Quintet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £10.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 28: Mostly Moonlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 28: Juliana Day & Manon McCoy @ Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00.; £10.00. advance. JNE.

Sat 29: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 29: Doris Day Story @ Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm.
Sat 29: Squabble! @ 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, June 25, 2016

Federation of the Disco Pimp w. Pee Wee Ellis @ Hoochie Coochie - June 24


Marco Cafollo (keys/vcls); Dade Thomas (dms); Michael Berrich (gtr/vcl); Ross Saunders (bs); Dave Towers/Jonny White (saxes); Cameron Jay (tpt) + PEE WEE ELLIS (ten/vcl).
(Review by Lance).
The last time I saw Pee Wee Ellis was at GIJF 2012 where he impressed with a band called Pork Chop - a pretty tame name compared to The Federation of the Disco Pimp! However, there was nothing tame about Ellis' playing on either occasion and nor did self-effacement figure on the Disco Pimps c.v.!
The funkiest of the funk, they hit the deck running setting the stage for Pee Wee to blow on Jaco's The Chicken. This elder statesman of the tenor sax has still got it! The other horns blew the familiar riff and guitar, bass, keys and drums also tucked-in.  A very tasty bird.
Just Enough For the City followed. However, by this time notebook had been discarded and I just wallowed in the sound. James Brown, Zappa, the Memphis Horns, Headhunters - you name it! the atmosphere, like the thunder and lightning outside earlier, was electric.
Composer, keyboardist, Cafollo led from the back producing some incredible sounds and somehow managing to cue in the horns even though they had their backs to him! He also sung and provided backing vocals. Main vocalist was guitarist Berrich who also wailed on a Gibson (335?). Apart from Ellis, who not only blew the funkiest tenor this side of Detroit as well as singing You Don't Know What Time it is (But I Do), the other horns had their moments too. Tenor man blew on I Love Tomorrow, The alto burned, there was a blistering solo on a tune I didn't catch the title of by a trumpet player whose name I didn't know either (now know him to be Cameron Jay)! Indeed, apart from Cafollo and Thomas, the other names were taken from the band's F/b page and may not be accurate but on nights like this - who keeps score?
As the evening progressed the inhibitions loosened and the dancers decided reckless abandon was the order of the day.  
Drummer Thomas catered to their needs laying down a hypnotic rhythm that would have even had David Cameron dancing!
Well maybe not...
Lance

3 comments :

Patti said...

My knees and ears are telling me I had a brilliant night! Thanks, Hoochie Coochie!

Anonymous said...

Cameron Jay trumpet

Lance said...

Thanks for the info re Cameron Jay - review now corrected.
At least one Cameron had a good night!

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