Blog

Once again the indefatigable Strictly Smokin' Big Band pulled in the crowds at the Glasshouse (Sage, Gateshead). Along with their star guest

It's Christmas! Well, almost. It's become a tradition, the Strictly Smokin' Big band's two nights at Gosforth Civic Theatre on th...

Ella & Ellington, Strictly Smokin', full house. It's becoming a common occurrence, Strictly Smokin' Big Band playing to capacity audiences.

As the house lights dimmed, the near full house heard the strains of Avenue C. The recorded music gave way to the SSBB's rhythm section seam

FRIDAY 28th APRIL 2023 THE WITHAM, BARNARD CASTLE The Witham on Horse Market isn't a noted jazz venue but thanks to the popularity of the...

FRIDAY 23rd FEBRUARY 2023 HALL 2, SAGE GATESGEAD It doesn't get much better than this. Top singer (actually two top singers) and a big...

Friday 23rd December 2022 HOOCHIE COOCHIE The band moved, the dancers moved and one of the non-dancers was moved to remark that he...

Friday 16th & Saturday 17th December 2022 GOSFORTH CIVIC THEATRE If it's the week before Christmas there's is only one place to be and...

SUNDAY 23RD OCTOBER 2022 HOOCHIE COOCHIE This was, to quote from Larry Hart's lyric in Thou Swell, "a sweet lollapalooza" or as Cole...

I said it began with a BANG and I wasn't just referring to the power of the brass on Buddy's Big Swing Face! I was bemused as I tried to...

SATURDAY 18th JUNE 2022 A new venue for the SSBB in this, the band's twentieth anniversary year.* The word 'industrial' springs to mind...

SATURDAY 26TH FEBRUARY 2022 HALL 2, SAGE GATESGEAD I'd heard Pete Long's Ellington/Strayhorn inspired suite based around Gustav Holst's...

Friday 13th August Newcastle Jazz Festival at Newcastle Civic Centre This promised much and delivered even more! Alice Grace singing Ella...

Saturday 20th April 2020 Gosforth Civic Theatre This was quite an occasion, indeed a unique one, not to mention a historic one! A Great...

FRIDAY 13TH (!) MARCH I’d maybe have been to The Odeon and heard Duke or Basie, the City Hall where I heard just about everybody else or,...

SATURDAY 29TH FEBRUARY 2020 HALL 2, SAGE GATESHEAD Some cats can some cats can’t. Mike Lovatt can! Mike Lovatt can do what? Mike Lovatt...

SUNDAY 20TH OCTOBER 2019 HOOCHIE COOCHIE I’ve stopped using plaudits like ‘Gig of the Month’, ‘Gig of the Year’ etc. There are just too...

SATURDAY 17TH AUGUST 2019 NEWCASTLE JAZZ FESTIVAL TYNE BANK BREWERY Special mention also to the heroes of the hour. Michael Lamb and...

Sunday 23rd June 2019 Hoochie Coochie Never has the phrase 'hit the deck running' been more apt than at Hoochiee last night! SSBB did...

Saturday 23rd February 2019 Hall 2, Sage Gateshead Michael Lamb and the SSBB think big when they book a guest artist. Over the last few...