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Dennis Rollins with SSBB
Once again the indefatigable Strictly Smokin' Big Band pulled in the crowds at the Glasshouse (Sage, Gateshead). Along with their star guest
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Bebop Spoken Here
Dec 17, 20231 min
Christmas at GCT 2023
It's Christmas! Well, almost. It's become a tradition, the Strictly Smokin' Big band's two nights at Gosforth Civic Theatre on th...
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Bebop Spoken Here
Aug 4, 20232 min
'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, 20232 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, 20231 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, 20232 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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Bebop Spoken Here
Dec 23, 20222 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, 20222 min
Christmas at GCT 2022
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...
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Bebop Spoken Here
Oct 23, 20222 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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Bebop Spoken Here
Aug 18, 20221 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 18, 20222 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, 20222 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 13, 20212 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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Bebop Spoken Here
Apr 19, 20202 min
Premiere: Great Day In Harlem (Harlem '58)
Saturday 20th April 2020 Gosforth Civic Theatre This was quite an occasion, indeed a unique one, not to mention a historic one! A Great...
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Bebop Spoken Here
Mar 13, 20203 min
Flat Caps Coffee
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,...
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Bebop Spoken Here
Feb 29, 20202 min
MIKE LOVATT with Strictly Smokin' Big Band
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...
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Bebop Spoken Here
Oct 20, 20192 min
CLAIRE MARTIN OBE with Strictly Smokin' Big Band
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...
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Bebop Spoken Here
Aug 17, 20191 min
SSBB at Newcastle Jazz Festival 2019
SATURDAY 17TH AUGUST 2019 NEWCASTLE JAZZ FESTIVAL TYNE BANK BREWERY Special mention also to the heroes of the hour. Michael Lamb and...
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Bebop Spoken Here
Jun 23, 20193 min
Alice Grace, Jen Davies & Carly McKee with SSBB at Hoochie Coochie
Sunday 23rd June 2019 Hoochie Coochie Never has the phrase 'hit the deck running' been more apt than at Hoochiee last night! SSBB did...
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Bebop Spoken Here
Feb 23, 20194 min
MARK NIGHTINGALE with Strictly Smokin' Big Band
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...
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