Bebop Spoken There

Melissa Aldana: ''Having to play a ballads album, which is something very revealing for a saxophone player, would help me to question some new aspects of how to go deeper into sound." (DownBeat May, 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

18656 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 520 of them this year alone and, so far this month (June 25) 72

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

June

Sun 28: Musicians Unlimited: Big Band Blast @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00-3:00pm . Free.
Sun 28: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Table reservations (0191 261 8000). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: Tim Kliphuis Trio @ St Mary’s Church, Wooler. 3:00pm. £18.00., £6.00. A Wooler Arts Summer Concerts event. Tim Kliphuis (violin); Nigel Clark (guitar); Roy Percy (double bass).
Sun 28: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: An Evening of Jazz @ St James’ Church, Copper Chare, Morpeth. 7:30pm. Tickets: £10.00 from 01670 788869 or 01670 519923. Mid Northumberland Chorus (MD Robin Forbes, Emma Straughan, piano) w. jazz trio featuring Edgar Ho, Oscar Ho & Dave McKeague & special guest Emily Masser. Performance inc. Bob Chilcott’s A Little Jazz Mass + George Shearing’s Songs & Sonnets.
Sun 28: Led Bib @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £15.00., £12.00. JNE.

Mon 29: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 30: Alan Law Trio @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free.
Tue 30: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

July

Wed 01: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 01: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 01: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 02: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 02: 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 02: De’Sean Jones & Blaque Dynamite feat. Urban Art Orchestra @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). De’Sean Jones (MD, tenor sax); Blaque Dynamite (Mike Mitchell, drums); Jamie Murray (drums) with UAO horns & strings.
Thu 02: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.
Thu 02: Howlin’ Mat @ Newcastle Arts centre. 7:30pm. Free. Acoustic

Fri 03: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 03: Paul Donnelly Quartet @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm.
Fri 03: Martin Taylor @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Taylor (solo guitar).

Sat 04: Spats Langham’s Hot Fingers @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club.
Sat 04: Michael Woods @ Cycle Hub, Quayside, Ouseburn. 1:30-2:30pm & 3:00-4:00pm. Free. Acoustic blues guitar. An Ouseburn Festival event.
Sat 04: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. Take the ‘A’ Train to Summertime: From Melody to Masterclass. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Friday, October 28, 2022

Knats - Actual Proof @ Hoochie Coochie - Oct. 27

Ferg Kilsby (trumpet); Jacob Wilson (tenor saxophone); Chris Outhwaite (keyboards); Stan Woodward (bass); King David Ike-Elechi (drums)

The Headhunters toured the world in the seventies filling concert halls from Newcastle to New York. It was around the time of Actual Proof, one of Herbie Hancock's jazz-funk hits (in the world of chart music it was a 'hit' of sorts). Fast forward half a century to Hoochie Coochie on Pilgrim Street in Newcastle for the return of a reshaped, reinvigorated Knats. It's only a matter of weeks since Stan, King and the now departed (to musical pastures new) Josh went off to the 'bright lights, big city' of London. The word was out and a large crowd turned out.

This free admission gig, hosted by the now resident (monthly) Swannek, pulled in newbies, oldies and in betweenies. Knats were billed as Swannek's guests, but full credit to the host band for getting it right, Swannek opting to open the show with Knats to follow. Bluster, self confidence, call it what you will, Stan Woodward is Knats' engaging frontman. Possessing prodigious jazz-funk bass-playing chops, Stan and big pal King David Ike-Elechi (drums) hit on a groove and didn't let up. At all of seventeen, band veteran Ferg Kilsby (trumpet) knew what was required, time and again stepping up to the plate, firing from the lip. Wow! 

From Joe Henderson to Herbie Hancock (Actual Proof) to danceable originals, this was one killing trio. Trio? Wait a minute! Make that 'quintet', the new boys were in town...meet tenor saxophonist Jacob Wilson and pianist Chris Outhwaite. New to London, it didn't take Stan and King long to recruit these two hotshots. In their twenteens, Jacob (Kent Youth Jazz Orchestra and on to music college) is living the dream, a successful crowdfunding campaign (supported by one of the British jazz scene's most venerable musicians) enabled him to purchase a more-than-decent instrument and look at him now! Jacob appeared to be enjoying himself trading with Ferg. The volume, the lights, the packed room, they were having fun! And pianist Chris (emerging from a Royal Birmingham Conservatoire junior jazz ensemble) more than made himself heard, we have another tremendous talent in our midst. We haven't seen or heard the last of Knats, far from it. The next time the boys are in town don't miss 'em!
Russell                       
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