Bebop Spoken There

Jools Holland (on his 2026 spring/summer tour): ''With the mighty [R&B] Orchestra, our wonderful boogie woogie singers, and the brilliant Joe Webb opening the shows [including Darlington Hippodrome, June 19], we're in for some very special evenings of music.'' The Northern Echo February 5, 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

18263 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 117 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Feb. 6), 17

From This Moment On ...

February

Fri 06: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 06: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 06: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 06: Durham Alumni Big Band & Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn Theatre. 7:30pm. £12.00. Two big bands on stage together!
Fri 06: Nauta + Littlewood Trio @ Little Buildings, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Double bill + jam session.
Fri 06: FILM: Made in America @ Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Ornette Coleman.
Fri 06: Deep Six Blues @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.

Sat 07: The Big Easy @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club.
Sat 07: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30-3:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 07: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. St Thomas & Bésame Mucho. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 07: Side Cafe Oᴙkestar @ Café Under the Spire, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Table reservations: 0191 477 3970.
Sat 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 08: Swing Tyne @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12 noon (doors). Donations. Swing dance taster class (12:30pm) + Hot Club de Heaton (live performance). Non dancers welcome.
Sun 08: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: Gerry Richardson’s Big Idea @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 09: Mark Williams Trio @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 09: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 10: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 11: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington.. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 11: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 12: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

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

Friday, December 22, 2017

King Bee @ Hoochie Coochie - December 21


(Review by Lance)
If you ain't been to a King Bee Xmas Party then you ain't been to a party. And if you ain't been to a King Bee party at Hoochie Coochie then reflect upon the sheltered life you've led. Trumpet man Richard threw a Yorkshire pudding into the audience. Rich is from Australia so maybe that's what they do down under when they're not playing cricket. He didn't mention The Ashes. I don't know who caught the pudding or whether they ate it, framed it or had it autographed.
Whilst the Yorkie was flying, the band were blowing up a storm that never subsided.

Chris Jelly on vibes rates with any vibes player in the UK and also a few more from further afield. He's acquired a new dingus in the form of a Malletkat which seems to produce musical miracles - but only in the hands of a musical-miracle-maker.
Dave Wilde did more singing this year but still found time to blow flute and tenor. Richard Burns, when not throwing Yorkshire puddings, threw some Miles Davis into the mix and Steve Glendinning carried on from where he'd left off at Tuesday's Jazz Café Jam Session with some funky fretting. The engine room team of Murphy, Brady and Douglas covered all the bases - where's Martin Douglas been hiding? 
This is one helluva band. Jazz, Soul, Funk? You name it. They rocked Hoochie and the packed room loved it.
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Rest ye, at this pace? Lewis Hamilton couldn't have managed it!
Fantastic gig and now, 12 hours later, my pulse is only just returning to normal. 'See you next Christmas' said Richard and I'm counting the days already...
Lance

Dave Wilde (tenor/flute/vocal); Chris Jelly (vibes/Malletkat); Richard Burns (trumpet); Dan Brady (bass guitar); Steve Glendinning (guitar); Martin Douglas (drums); Brendan Murphy (percussion).

1 comment :

Russell said...

The Yorkshire Pud was last seen precariously balanced on the head of a dancing reveller!

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