The Jazz Defenders @ Hoochie Coochie - April 7

George Cooper (piano); Jihad Darwish (bass/bass guitar); Ian Matthews (drums); Nick Malcolm (trumpet); Jake McMurchie (tenor sax).

It could have been Birdland in New York or  the Down Beat in Newcastle but it wasn't although it was in Newcastle - Hoochie Coochie, where else? The Jazz Defenders were in town bringing with them the spirit of those Blue Note years when the Jazz Messengers were putting bums on seats at the former and the EmCee Five doing the same at the latter. Driving hard bop with the punch and power of funkin' soul added to the mix which, I think, was how Hoochie's head honcho described it although I could have misheard him!

The Defenders don't take no prisoners, don't carry no passengers and don't play, as Warren would say, no funkin' ballads. The last band I heard who kicked ass like this was the Tommy Chase Quartet and that was nigh on 40 years ago! But even they were like a Palm Court ensemble by comparision. 

With the exception of Horace Silver's Filthy McNasty, all the numbers were by pianist/leader Cooper who's compositional skills are only exceeded by his phenomenal keyboard technique (or vice versa). Many of them were from their latest album King Phoenix (review shortly) which is a must have. The two horns could cut it any place from here to eternity via Soho, Manhattan, Detroit, Philly, Chicago or L.A. Maybe even Timbuktu. Darwish stepped in on bass at a moment's notice switching from acoustic to electric as the occasion demanded. He ticked all the boxes and then some. Likewise, drummer Matthews began where most drummers end - he's something else!

One thing I like about Hoochie is that people dance and have fun. They certainly did all that.

I know we are only just into April so it's probably a bit premature to start talking about it being the gig of the year but, come New Year's Eve it must surely be in the frame and, if it's not, join the queue outside Fenwick's window - private joke, don't ask! Lance