Bebop Spoken There

Dominick "Domo" Branch: ''Most people say drummers can't write, they're just time-keepers only beating on things. But I have a very musical brain.'' (DownBeat February, 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

18288 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 142 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Feb. 14), 42

From This Moment On ...

February

Sun 22: Musicians Unlimited: Big Band Blast @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00-3:00pm . Free.
Sun 22: Joe Steels Group @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. A Blue Patch album tour.
Sun 22: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: Harben Kay Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 23: Joe Steels Group @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. A Blue Patch album tour.
Mon 23: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 24: Finn-Keeble Group @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £11.00.
Tue 24: Liam Oliver & Shayo Oshodi @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 25: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 25: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 25: Geordie Jazz Jam @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. Newcastle University jam session. All welcome.
Wed 25: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 26: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £6.50.
Thu 26: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00 adv.
Thu 26: Mick Cantwell Band @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Blues.

Fri 27: Joe Steels Group @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT! A Blue Patch album tour.
Fri 27: Alan Barnes w. Mick Shoulder Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. Trio: Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 27: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 27: Radio Hito + Eddie Prévost, Silvain Schmid & Tom Wheatley @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £12.22., £10.10., £8.00.
Fri 27: Giacomo Smith w Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.
Fri 27: Alan Barnes w. Mick Shoulder Trio @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £15.00. Trio: Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).

Sat 28: Boys of Brass @ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Sat 28: Ray Stubbs R&B Allstars @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. Free.

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

Sunday, March 16, 2025

Vintage Explosion @ The Cluny, Newcastle - March 15

© Russell
William Hitchell (vocals, guitar); Duncan Kennedy (guitar); ? (piano); ? (tenor sax); Barry Steele (baritone sax); Richard Anderson (double bass); Douglas Macfarlane (drums) 

Anything Scott Bradlee (Postmodern Jukebox) can do (two billion views on YouTube), William Hitchell can do too. Bradley uploaded music videos in his Astoria, NYC apartment and global fame followed. Glaswegian Hitchell posted a video and went to bed. The following day, to his amazement, Hitchell found that overnight his video had been viewed 2.5m times and no fewer than 135,000 emails were in his inbox, many offering him gigs all over the world. 

© Russell
Vintage Explosion is a phenomenon. Constant touring, several album releases (2024's Saturday Night the latest), a growing fan base, the band's Newcastle gig sold out months ago. The Cluny couldn't have been busier. For those who know the venue - a split level space, seats at a premium, partially restricted sightlines - the joint was jumpin'. Fully ninety minutes before the band hit the stage, the all-ticketed audience queued and queued and queued...

Seemingly everyone had a (plastic glass) drink in hand (the one handpull on the bar didn't last long). As the lights went down the air of anticipation across the crowded room was palpable. Rock 'n' roll, rhythm and blues and the voice of the Main Man, William Hitchell - wow! Was this Sam Cooke Live at the Harlem Square Club or a Glaswegian singer killing 'em down in the Ouseburn? Sensational! Bootin' horns, hot dance floor guitar licks, honky-tonk piano, propulsive, slap-happy bass playing, Vintage Explosion sure can put on a show! 

The Wanderer and Runaround Sue had 'em singing along with Hitchell/Dion. You've Really Got a Hold on Me, a riotous Shake, Rattle and Roll (Joe Turner would have been impressed!), a screaming Lucille, we were witness to a non-stop revue, Hitchell and band looking the part in their black jacket and tie penguin suits. Was that sweat dripping off the walls? And then the moment many in the sold out audience had been waiting for...A Change is Gonna Come. Wow wee! What a voice!

Fully ninety minutes later Vintage Explosion left the stage. A foot-stomping, hollering crowd wanted more. A quick change to pristine white dinner jacket and Hitchell returned to the stage alone, this time with a guitar in hand. A most unlikely choice for an encore, My Way, couldn't be anything other than a communal sing along. Against the odds, it worked! Hitchell's band joined him for the 'outer' of all outers...Johnny B. Goode. Brilliant, absolutely brilliant! Russell

No comments :

Blog Archive