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Bebop Spoken There

Stan Woodward: ''We're part of the British jazz scene, but we don't play London jazz. We play Newcastle jazz. The Knats album represents many things, but most importantly that Newcastle isn't overlooked". (DownBeat, April 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

17904 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 225 of them this year alone and, so far, 72 this month (March 24).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Thu 27: Hannabiell & Midnight Blue @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 27: Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb blues duo.

Fri 28: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00 SOLD OUT!.
Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
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: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm.
Fri 28: Sue Ferris Quintet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £10.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 28: Mostly Moonlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 28: Juliana Day & Manon McCoy @ Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00.; £10.00. advance. JNE.

Sat 29: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 29: Doris Day Story @ Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm.
Sat 29: Squabble! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 30: Jan Spencelayh & Dave Archbold @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 30: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 31: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

APRIL 2025

Tue 01: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Mark Robertson.
Tue 01: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 02: Lauren Bush: The Jazz Singer’s Toolkit @ The Pele, Corbridge. 1:00-4:00pm. Vocalist Lauren Bush with pianist Jamil Sheriff presents a jazz singing workshop. £40.00. (inc. evening concert, see below). Registration required for workshop: www.laurenbushjazz.com. All ability levels welcome.
Wed 02: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 02: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 2:30-4:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Wed 02: Lauren Bush & Jamil Sheriff @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00-9:00pm. £10.00. Concert performance. Tickets: www.laurenbushjazz.com.
Wed 02: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 02: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. POSSIBLE CANCELLATION. See website for updates: www.theglobenewcastle.bar.

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

Friday, April 08, 2022

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

3 comments :

Russell said...

Fantastic gig! Lance, I think you heard Hooochie Coochie's Main Man hollering something similar to 'funkin' brilliant'! Come the end of the year, if the gig isn't in the frame it'll be a real bummer (private joke!).

Unknown said...

Wow thanks for such lovely words Lance! It was a real pleasure and privilege to play for you all at Hoochie, we thoroughly enjoyed it 💥

James Watson said...

Amazing gig! Completely blew me away. I was expecting it to be good but this was on another level!
Bought the new album from the band after, it’s truly outstanding.

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