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'Ella & Ellington' Preview at Sunderland Fire station
Ella & Ellington, Strictly Smokin', full house. It's becoming a common occurrence, Strictly Smokin' Big Band playing to capacity audiences.
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Bebop Spoken Here
- May 21
- 2 min
Harlem '58 - Queen's Hall, Hexham
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
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Bebop Spoken Here
- May 14
- 1 min
Harlem '58 - The Witham
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...
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Bebop Spoken Here
- Feb 27
- 2 min
MATT FORD with Strictly Smokin' Big Band
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...
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Michael Lamb
- Feb 1
- 2 min
Emma Smith and Strictly Smokin' Big Band
Register for tickets to see EMMA SMITH and STRICTLY SMOKIN' BIG BAND | Sunday 22nd October 2023 | Newcastle-upon-Tyne
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Michael Lamb
- Jan 23
- 2 min
SSBB on Tour
We're very excited to be heading out on our first official tour later this year. We'll be at a collection of amazing venues across the...
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Michael Lamb
- Jan 15
- 2 min
Jazz in Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Here's a quick one on finding the best jazz venues and events in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
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Bebop Spoken Here
- Dec 23, 2022
- 2 min
Hoochie Coochie Christmas
Friday 23rd December 2022 HOOCHIE COOCHIE The band moved, the dancers moved and one of the non-dancers was moved to remark that he...
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Bebop Spoken Here
- Dec 16, 2022
- 2 min
Christmas at GCT 2023
Friday 16th & Saturday 17th December 2023 GOSFORTH CIVIC THEATRE If it's the week before Christmas there's is only one place to be and...
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Bebop Spoken Here
- Oct 22, 2022
- 2 min
DAVE O'HIGGINS celebrating 20 YEARS of Strictly Smokin' Big Band
SUNDAY 23RD OCTOBER 2022 HOOCHIE COOCHIE This was, to quote from Larry Hart's lyric in Thou Swell, "a sweet lollapalooza" or as Cole...
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Michael Lamb
- Sep 30, 2022
- 1 min
Smokin' Big Guest
The region's greatest big band - Strictly Smokin' Big Band - are celebrating 20 years in the biz with an extra special gig at Hoochie Coochi
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Bebop Spoken Here
- Aug 17, 2022
- 1 min
Newcastle Jazz Festival 2022
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...
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Bebop Spoken Here
- Jun 17, 2022
- 2 min
Cobalt Studios
SATURDAY 18th JUNE 2022 A new venue for the SSBB in this, the band's twentieth anniversary year.* The word 'industrial' springs to mind...
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Bebop Spoken Here
- Feb 26, 2022
- 2 min
PETE LONG with Strictly Smokin' Big Band
SATURDAY 26TH FEBRUARY 2022 HALL 2, SAGE GATESGEAD I'd heard Pete Long's Ellington/Strayhorn inspired suite based around Gustav Holst's...
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Bebop Spoken Here
- Aug 12, 2021
- 2 min
SSBB at Newcastle Jazz Festival 2021
Friday 13th August Newcastle Jazz Festival at Newcastle Civic Centre This promised much and delivered even more! Alice Grace singing Ella...
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Guy Swinton
- May 31, 2021
- 4 min
Top 5 Big Band Drum Performances
At the risk of coming across all Whiplash, there’s going to be an awful lot of Buddy Rich here. While there is a universe of other...
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Dave Kerridge
- May 21, 2021
- 4 min
Dave Kerridge's Top 10 Big Band Recordings
Dave Kerridge plays second tenor in Strictly Smokin' - here are his all time top 10 big band recordings. Art Blakey "Night in Tunisia"...
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Michael Lamb
- Apr 10, 2021
- 2 min
Remote Big Bands
There have been two main modes of musicians getting their playing 'out there' during 2020/ 2021... either live stream, or create these...
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Michael Lamb
- Apr 4, 2021
- 4 min
UK Jazz Blogs
Once upon a time, the 'jazz blog' was a niche corner of the internet for enthusiasts documenting the gigs they'd attended. Now, they're...
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Pete Tanton
- Mar 8, 2021
- 2 min
Home to Emily
To anyone growing up in the US in the 1970s, ‘Home to Emily’ will probably be a familiar tune. It was the theme song to the Bob Newhart...
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