Bebop Spoken There

Christian McBride: ''I believe we are living in a historically embarrassing moment in American history.'' - Downbeat December 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

18061 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 1025 of them this year alone and, so far, 39 this month (Dec. 14).

From This Moment On ...

DECEMBER 2025

Sat 20: Jazz Attack @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 11:00am. Free.
Sat 20: Alexia Gardner @ FIKA Art Gallery, Morpeth. 6:30pm. Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy. SOLD OUT!
Sat 20: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Sat 20: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 20: Hoodoo Blues @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:15pm (doors). £14.25, £11.55. Dance class, social dancing, live music & Xmas Party. Live music from 9:00pm - Ruth Lambert, Giles Strong, Ian Paterson & John Bradford (jazz and blues).
Sat 20: John Pope Quintet @ Blank Studios, Newcastle. 7:30-8:30pm. £7.70 (inc. bf). Album recording session.

Sun 21: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. ‘Xmas Swingalong’. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 21: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00-5:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ o2 City Hall, Newcastle. 6:00pm. £35.80., £33.25., £31.00.
Sun 21: The Globe Xmas Party @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Live music.
Sun 21: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:30pm. Free.

Mon 22: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 23: Paul Skerritt @ Chakh Dhoom, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Indian restaurant. Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Wed 24: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 24: Alexia Gardner @ The Townhouse, Bridge St., Morpeth. 1:30-4:30pm. ‘The A Capella Sessions’. Gardner, Paula Gardner, Alexia Hope Gardner Diamany.
Wed 24: Paul Skerritt @ Mambo Wine & Dine, South Shields. 1:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Thu 25: Alexia Gardner @ The Townhouse, Bridge St., Morpeth. 1:30-4:00pm. ‘All About the Bass Sessions’. Alexia Gardner, Paula Gardner, Jude Murphy.

Fri 26: ???

Sat 27: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Sat 27: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.

Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ 3 Stories, High St. West, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: The Society Quartet @ Hilton Garden Inn, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Jason Holcomb & co.

Mon 29: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 30: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £8.00., £7.00. adv.

Wed 31: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 31: Lil Miss Mary & the Mr Rights Trio @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. ‘Early NYE Bash’. Rockabilly, rhythm & blues.
Wed 31: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. ‘Midnight in Manhattan’ NYE party. £49.46 (inc. bf) & £29.38 (inc. bf).

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, December 10, 2018

House of the Black Gardenia @ Hoochie Coochie - Dec. 9

(Review by Lance).
Hoochie was heaving. The Lindys were hopping and the Shaggers* were er dancing. The sound system belted out gems from Basie, Ella, Frank, Billie and Der Bingle. Had I died and gone to heaven? No, this was just the pre-nuptials before the House of the Black Gardenia eventually hit the stage.

The Mooche got the live show underway and it soon became apparent that we were in for a treat. Newcomer Tham slotted in effortlessly as anyone who'd heard him at the jam sessions around town already knew he would. Robinson, a black gardenia in his lapel, impressed on liquorice stick as he also did, during the course of the evening, on various saxophones. Michael Lamb proved he can blow swing style as well as he blows bebop and Showtime was, well, Showtime. Add a stomping rhythm section to die for plus the effervescence on the dancefloor and it was little surprise that, to coin a phrase, the joint was jumpin'! 
Ms Charleston took to the stage wielding her trusty Reliance washboard for Blue Drag and Viper Mad. The girl was in good voice and the band as sound as a pre-Brexit pound.

Ochi Chernye had a violin obligato from Katja whilst Don't Tell Lies About me saw Haigh abandon the kit to play guitar and do some chanting.
And so the evening flew by. Even  Graveyard Shift didn't halt the terpsichore on the floor.

Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho and the applause came tumbling down. Michael Littlefield sang what sounded like Careless Love with different words. 'Tricky Sam' Gray blew gutbucket trombone on Handyman and Bobbi described this small group offering as by the Bungalow of the Black Gardenia!

Evenin' sang Littlefield before special guest Rob Heron of Tea Pad Orchestra fame sang Skirts which reminded me of the George Melly classic Nuts.
Make me Mad made everyone mad because we didn't want it to end - ever!
Christmas can't get much merrier than this...
Lance.
*An American dance from the 1920s/'30s.

Bobbi Charleston (vocals/washboard); Michael Lamb (trumpet); David 'Showtime' Gray (trombone); Keith Robinson (soprano/alto/tenor saxes/ clarinet); Katja Roberts (violin); Marcus Tham (keys); Michael Littlefield (guitar/banjo/vocals); Neil Hopper (bass/sousaphone); Kit Haigh (drums/vocals/guitar) + Rob Heron (vocal).
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1 comment :

Keith Robinson said...

Thanks for coming down, enjoying the music, dancers and atmosphere. Just for clarification, these were the song titles: The Mooche, Blue Drag, Viper, Mad Russian, Caravan, Tell Liza ‘bout me, One in a Million, Graveyard Shift, Joshua Fit the battle of Jericho, Ain’t it Hard?, Evenin’, Skirts, Handyman Blues, Big Big Man.

Monday, December 10, 2018 6:13:00 pm

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