Total Pageviews

Bebop Spoken There

Sullivan Fortner: ''I always judge it by the bass player: If the bass player is happy, it's going to be a good night". (DownBeat, February 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

17805 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 126 of them this year alone and, so far, 51 this month (Feb.16).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30pm-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 22: Mississippi MacDonald @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm. Blues.
Sat 22: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm. £16.50. SOLD OUT!
Sat 22: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

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: Mark Williams Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 23: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Mu Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 23: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tue 25: ?

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: Jamie McCredie @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Fri 28: Luis Verde 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: Knats @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £11.50. (inc bf.). Album launch gig. Support act TBC.
Fri 28: Black is the Color of My Voice @ The Gala, Durham. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman show inspired by the life of Nina Simone, performed by Florence Odumosu.
Fri 28: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival: Musicians Unlimited @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 8:00pm. £10.00. (Weekend ticket £20.00., available on the door). Day 1/3. Musicians Unlimited in concert.
Fri 28: Redwell @ 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, November 24, 2018

King Bees @ The Collingwood Arms, Jesmond, Newcastle - Nov 23

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

A rare blues gig at the Collingwood Arms featuring an equally rare acoustic performance by King Bees...that was Friday night out sorted! Brandling Village regulars occupied their usual seats or stood at the bar engaging in animated chatter as the best blues band in the land set up in amongst the drinking, pizza-eating crowd - your correspondent opting for a rather decent pint of Landlord.  

Dominic Hornsby sat at the pub's upright, Giles Holt rested his snare on a low bar stool, a seated Simon Hedley retracted the spike on his string bass, Scott Taylor sat on a stool, harmonicas laid out on an adjacent stool, and fellow frontman Michael Littlefield sat, then stood, playing acoustically, on some numbers making good use of his National Steel. 

Punters squeezed past, a hand on a King Bees' shoulder - Excuse me mate, sorry mate - as they made numerous trips to the bar and loo. Harmonica ace Taylor hollered Sonny Boy's Keep it to Yourself, blowin' great harp, blowin' for all he was worth, hoping to make himself heard above the Friday night hubbub. 

Littlefield stood up to inform the crowd that the King Bees would be playing for an hour or so and remained on his feet to sing Jimmy Rogers' classic Walking by Myself. Holt cocked an ear hoping to hear his bandmates. If there is a better drummer on the blues scene than this young man then Bebop Spoken Here has yet to come across her/him. 

Hornsby pounded the ivories - given the upright's vintage the 88s probably are ivory! - as if in a barrelhouse. Back in the day musicians no doubt encountered juke joints like this night after night. Littlefield's vocals cut through on Caldonia just as they do at Billy Bootleggers*

The Scream for Pizza company's mobile kitchen set up outside the Collingwood's front door. Business was brisk - Excuse me mate, etc. - with ravenous drinkers seeking sustenance. Another pint of Landlord...none left! Oh, well, a pint of Colly Dog seemed like a good alternative...it was!

The band's one hour set was nearing its end but still they played on. Scott Taylor singing Hard Hearted Woman is one of the great experiences, as is his killing harp playing. An I was there moment, right here in the heart of Jesmond. Their set supposedly at an end, punters making their way into the night, Taylor picked up a guitar, Hornsby likewise (see photo), Holt's brushes the backbeat. 
Russell 
King Bees are resident, first Friday in the month at Billy Bootleggers. Next one Dec 7, on stage nine o'clock, free admission. Unreservedly recommended.     


No comments :

Blog Archive