Bebop Spoken There

Dominick "Domo" Branch: ''Most people say drummers can't write, they're just time-keepers only beating on things. But I have a very musical brain.'' (DownBeat February, 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

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

Fri 13: Noel Dennis Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm . £9.00. Dennis (trumpet, flugelhorn); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 13: Joe Steels @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 13: Tom Remon & John Moriarty @ The Ship Isis, Silksworth Row, Sunderland SR1 3QJ. 7:00pm. £10.00 + £1.00 bf.
Fri 13: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm.

Sat 14: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Sat 14: Big Joe Louis + Michael Littlefield @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £16.00. Jumpin’ Hot Club.
Sat 14: Brass Fiesta @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 10:30pm. Free.

Sun 15: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Trio + Jason Holcomb. Free.
Sun 15: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Wild Women of Wylam @ Ye Olde Cross, Ryton. 7:30pm. Free.
Sun 15: Yorkshire Gypsy Swing Collective @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 16: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 16: Jasper Lo + Daniel Chandler Trio @ Little Buildings, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £7.00. + bf.
Mon 16: Joe Steels Group @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00. A Blue Patch album tour.

Tue 17: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Victoria & Albert Inn, Seaton Delaval. 12:30pm. £9.50. Tickets: 0191 237 3697. ‘Jazz ‘n’ Pancakes’.
Tue 17: John Pope & John Garner @ The Great Hall, Sutherland Building, Northumbria University. 1:15pm. Free. Double bass & violin.
Tue 17: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Stu Collingwood (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); John Hirst (drums).

Wed 18: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 18: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 18: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

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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