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Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 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

17680 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 23 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Jan. 9).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Tue 14: Zoë Gilby Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

Wed 15: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 15: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 15: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 15: Hot Club of Heaton @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘third Wednesday in the month’ session. TBC.

Thu 16: Pete Tanton & the Cuban Heels @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 17: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 17: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 17: Joe Steels Trio w. Graham Hardy @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £10.00. (inc. a welcome drink & table reservation). Book at: www.drinks@thepele.co.uk. A ‘Jazz at the Pele’ promotion.
Fri 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 18: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 18: Alter Ego + Jamie Toms/Graham Don Duo @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 18: Delta Prophets @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 19: Glenn Miller Orchestra UK @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm. ‘Glenn Miller & the Rat Pack Era’.
Sun 19: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 19: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:15-7:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 19: Tenement Jazz Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 19: Nick Ross Orchestra @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.
Sun 19: Freight Train (Tobin/Noble/Clarvis) @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 20: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 21: ???

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, January 05, 2019

King Bees @ Billy Bootleggers - Jan. 4

Michael Littlefield (guitar, vocals); Scott Taylor (harmonica, guitar, vocals); Dominic Hornsby (piano, guitar, vocals); Simon Hedley (double bass); Giles Holt (drums) + John ? (harmonica, vocals)
(Review by Russell)
First Friday in the month (first Friday of 2019!) and you're in Newcastle's self-proclaimed no.1 dive bar. But wait...a new pre/post gig city centre watering hole finally opened its doors this evening. Beeronomy on Hood Street is the award-winning Mordue Brewery's first pub. A mix of the industrial and the chandelier, the most striking thing was the absence on the bar of Radgie Gadgie and Workie Ticket. It soon dawned that the place wasn't attempting to be a 'proper' pub. Handpulls, yes, 'craft' beers (keg), a food menu and lots of employees asking: Is everything alright? Would you like to order now?...three times in twenty minutes. Billy Bootleggers never looked more inviting. 

Michael Littlefield thanked the patrons of Newcastle's no.1 dive bar for coming out on this first weekend of the new year.  Chicago it ain't but Billy Bootleggers will do, and the resident five-piece King Bees make this the place to be first Friday in the month* 

Keep it to Yourself implored Scott Taylor. Co-conspirator Littlefield insisted he was going Cuckoo. Taylor again, this time telling his broad: Straighten Up, Baby. Authentic Chicago blues? Faithful? As near as, but more importantly, King Bees play it 'with a feelin'. What's more, they play with a beer in hand...Hey! Mr Bartender, gimme another bourbon! 

Little Walter's Temperature upped the ante with Taylor sweatin' - 103, 4 and 5, harp wailin', this is why Newcastle's no.1 dive bar is packed when these boys are in town. Littlefield's vibrato cut through on Walking by Myself (more killing harp from Taylor), then a rarity, the band invited John, vocals and harmonica, to join them on Sweet Home, Chicago. Hey, Mr Bartender, more moonshine! 

Sit Down, Baby said Taylor (the second set was underway!). My Babe - lots of babes, broads and dames in tonight. Hard Hearted Woman lamented Taylor...evil on your mind. Littlefield belted out Hydramatic Woman, Dominic Hornsby played some boogie-woogie piano and band and audience hollered Caldonia! It was late, King Bees were thinking of wrapping it upEncore time, not just the one number, but several, including more from McKinley Morganfield - Hoochie Coochie Man and Mojo - as Taylor thought out loud: I'll play all night! 
Russell.
This January gig brought to an end King Bees' hugely successful residency. The band will announce future plans in the coming weeks. 

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