King Bees @ Billy Bootleggers - Feb 2

Michael Littlefield (guitar & vocals); Scott Taylor (vocals, harmonica & guitar); Dominic Hornsby (piano, guitar & vocals); Simon Hedley (double bass) & Giles Holt (drums)

(Review by Russell).

The fact that a contributor to the jazz blog Bebop Spoken Here is prepared to forsake jazz gigs elsewhere in town is an indication of just how good this blues night is. First Friday in the month King Bees take centre stage at the Nelson Street juke joint, invariably the place is crammed and tonight was no different.

I don’t know, man, I just don’t know sang frontman Scott Taylor. Blues heaven, pure and simple. He doesn’t look or sound like Sonny Boy – who does? – but, boy, the spirit, the passion is there! Just a Feeling, Hard Hearted Woman, Little Walter’s Temperature ‘101 when we kiss and dance 102 for a night romance, 103, 4 and 5.’ The King Bees were on it from the off. More from Sonny Boy ‘Baby, do me a favor, keep our business to yourself.’ Then Little Walter’s My Babe.

The band’s other frontman, Michael Littlefield, plays all the licks, gazing around the room with a vocal never far from his lips, Louis Jordan-style ‘Crazy ’bout that woman ’cause Caldonia is her name, Caldonia! Caldonia!’ The King Bees’ rhythm section is as good as it gets; tight, Chicago would welcome these boys with open arms. Dominic Hornsby plays a mean piano, plays guitar, sings – impressive or what?! Simon Hedley is a throwback – that’s a big compliment! – playing double bass just as Willie Dixon did during the South Side’s ’50s heyday. And then there’s Giles Holt, Freddie Below would have been impressed, nuff said.

T-Bone Walker’s Cold, Cold Feeling, Otis Rush’s Sit Down Baby, Kansas City, Don’t Get Around Much Anymore, it could be 3am…if only! 11pm it was as the King Bees went out on Got My Mojo Working. Billy Bootleggers, first Friday in the month, be there.

Russell