Bebop Spoken There

Christian McBride: ''We knew back in the day that Emmet [Cohen] had it.'' (DownBeat July, 2026)

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

18767 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 631 of them this year alone and, so far this month (July 31) 95.

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

From This Moment On

August

Tue 04: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 05: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 05: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 05: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 06: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 06: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 06: Wild Women of Wylam @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 06: Jeremy McMurray’s Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Feat. guest Zoë Gilby.
Thu 06: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Thu 06: Bridget Metcalfe Sextet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 07: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 07: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 08: ???

Sun 09: 58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00-3:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Ropner Park, Stockton. 2:00-4:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: The Gambling Janes @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 10: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.Free.

Tue 11: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free.

Saturday, February 26, 2022

King Bees @ The Hotspur, Newcastle - Feb. 25

Michael Littlefield (guitar, vocals); Scott Taylor (harmonica, vocals); Ted Harbot (double bass); Giles Holt (drums) + Mick Cantwell (vocals)

King Bees made a return to the Hotspur on Percy Street without the unavailable Dom Hornsby, placing the onus on Michael Littlefield to come up with the chords. No problem, Littlefield's the man! It was gone a quarter to nine before Tyneside's ace blues band took to the floor. 

From Willie Dixon to Little Walter to Muddy Waters, this was Chicago blues at its finest. Back in the day the South Side guys must've played every roadhouse juke joint coast to coast. More's the pity Newcastle's Hotspur pub wasn't on their radar! King Bees' Michael Littlefield and Scott Taylor sing the blues better than most, the former playing superb blues guitar licks, the latter blowing harp as good as anyone you care to name. 

Too Late hollered Taylor, Keep it to Yourself our man demanded. Little Walter, Sonny Boy, this was the business! New boy bassist Ted Harbot kept his head down, quite literally, to avoid bumping his head on a low-slung light fitting. Blues drummer par excellence, Giles Holt, kept it all together. Close your eyes and it was Fred Below! 

Earlier, Littlefield suggested King Bees would 'annoy' the pub's regulars for no longer than an hour. An hour and a half later Got My Mojo Workin' had the barflies hollering Mojo Workin'. This is some band, no two ways about it! And to top it off, Littlefield invited none other than Mick Cantwell to join them on Hoochie Coochie Man. Oh, man, your correspondent was literally within touching distance of the augmented front line! An unforgettable night. Russell

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