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Bebop Spoken There

Van Morrison: ''Basically, I'm coming from jazz. Not pop, not rock, not what's commercial. That's where I started, and that's still where I am. I feel the same as I did when I was listening to Louis Armstrong, Lead Belly, Jelly Roll Morton''. (The Northern Echo, 12 June 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

18037 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 458 of them this year alone and, so far, 36 this month (June 11).

From This Moment On ...

JUNE 2025

Sun 15: Lewis Watson Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 15: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Pasadena Roof Orchestra @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:00pm.
Sun 15: Under the Wellie @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 15: Hannah Brine Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 16: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club (1:00pm). Free.
Mon 16: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 17: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

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

Thu 19: Gareth John & the SOS Big Band @ The Forum Music Centre, Darlington. 7:00pm. £25.00.

Fri 20: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 20: David Gray's Flextet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 20: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. £21.50. ‘Time After Time’.br/> Fri 20: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm.
Fri 20: King Bees @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. Superb Chicago blues band.

Sat 21: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 21: Red Kites Jazz @ Staithes Café, Dunston. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Sat 21: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. 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

Monday, January 08, 2018

Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny - Jan 7

Neil Hunter (vocals), Steve McGarvie (alto saxophone & vocals), Alan Thompson (tenor saxophone), Terry O’Hern (trombone & vocals), Mike Hepple (Hammond organ & vocals), Bob Garrington (guitar), Ian Rigby (bass & vocals) & Gary Cain (drums)
(Review by Russell) 
The idea was that the Smokin’ Spitfires would play a one-off charity gig. That was a few years ago and now, in the first week of 2018, the band’s regular first Sunday in the month lunchtime gig goes from strength to strength having chalked up dozens of appearances and it’s still all for charity. The eight-piece band emerged phoenix-like from the embers of the legendary Eastside Torpedoes and it continues to attract a loyal following with many fans undoubtedly there from the beginning.

The Smokin’ Spitfires mine the glory years of the Atlantic and Stax record labels adding one or two of their own soul-stirring originals to the set list. Founding members of the Eastside Torpedoes Neil Hunter and Terry O’Hern are at the helm; Hunter these days sporting a geet big Santa Claus beard hasn’t lost any of his considerable vocal power, and O’Hern’s arrangements guarantee the Spitfires fire on all cylinders from note one. Jumpin’ in the Spotlight, Kissin’ in the Rain (it wasn’t, raining that is), a typically rip-roaring start. The Temptations’ Can’t Get Next to You, the Wilson Pickett chart hit 634-5789 (comp. Eddie Floyd and Steve Cropper), the horns killing on Move On Up, bona fide soul classics, all with Hunter’s ‘wake the dead’ vocals. The horn players are well known on the regional jazz scene; Alan Thompson (tenor) and Steve McGarvie (alto sax) are members of the Jazztones, although McGarvie plays keyboards in the latter outfit, and, along with Terry O’Hern, are fixtures in the award-winning Durham Alumni Big Band. Playing this stuff with the Smokin’ Spitfires must be a blast!


Arthur Conley’s Sweet Soul Music heard McGarvie, O’Hern, Mike Hepple and Ian Rigby supplying  the ‘Yeah, Yeah’ backing vocals to Hunter – and the audience! – singing the tongue-twisting lyrics, and finally, Sam and Dave insisted Hold On, I’m Comin’. The Smokin’ Spitfires are great fun, never do they seem to tire of the set list, the rhythm section – Hepple on Hammond organ, bassist Rigby and drummer Gary Cain – lays down a rock steady foundation upon which Hunter, the horns, and guitarist Bob Garrington deliver the goods time and again.
Russell                       

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