Bebop Spoken There

Ludovic Beier (Django Festival Allstars): ''Manouche means 'free man,' and gypsies have been travelers since they migrated west from India to Europe.'' (DownBeat March, 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

18395 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 259 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Mar. 30 ), 69

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

March

Tue 31: Bede Trio @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. Albert Hills Wright (alto sax); Finn Carter (piano); Michael Dunlop (double bass).

April

Wed 01: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ 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: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Musicians playing classical & orchestral music.
Thu 02: The Noel Dennis Band @ Prohibition Bar, Albert Road, Middlesbrough TS1 2RU. 7:00pm (doors). £10.84. Quartet plus special guest Zoë Gilby. Over 21s only.
Thu 02: Renegade Brass Band @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 02: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00. adv..
Thu 02: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

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: King Bees @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). Free. Chicago blues.

Saturday, January 07, 2023

King Bees @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle - Jan. 6

Michael Littlefield (guitar, vocals); Scott Taylor (harmonica, vocals); Dom Hornsby (piano, vocals); Ted Harbot (double bass); Giles Holt (drums) 

First Friday in the month it's the Blind Pig Blues Club. The first one of the year presented the one and only King Bees. This being King Bees, the advertised eight o'clock start came and went, after all there was some 'socialising' to be done. At a quarter to nine the boys opened the show with Steady after which Michael Littlefield asked the Prohibition Bar crowd if anyone was doing 'Dryanuary'. All seats taken, beers in hand, a somewhat silly question! 

The frontmen - guitarist Littlefield and harmonica ace Scott Taylor - were in fine form, sharing, as they usually do, the bulk of the vocals. During the evening's two sets pianist Dom Hornsby, battling all night long with the joint's seriously out of tune upright, grabbed a couple of vocals (I'm in love with you baby, Otis Spann to a tee, and Kansas City). Bassist Ted Harbot didn't/doesn't say a word, head down, laying it down, and then there was Giles Holt, blues drummer par excellence, a rare talent. Sit down baby implored Littlefield, his Stratocaster ringing to the echo, superb, similarly great vocals on Hard Hearted Woman. Taylor's contrasting vocals draw in the listener, in this instance, as if eavesdropping on a neighbourly 'domestic' - If it ain't me babe, tell me who you're thinking of

King Bees gig infrequently, the next time they're out and about, be there. As they did here this evening, there's every chance they'll go out on Hoochie Coochie Man. Russell      

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