Review: King Bee ft. Dave Wilde - On The Hill (Ramrock Red Records)

It's so good to be back as King Bee are now 'On The Hill' and it could literally be that!

It doesn't seem that long ago that we were heralding the new era in jazz dance Brit-funk with King Bee's previous single, 'Good To Be Back' (see review HERE).  But can this new track be even better as they and Ramrock Red Records (and Mrs Ramrock, Jo Wallace in particular) are one rack away from winning the match (a term Mosconi Cup fans will know well).

Once more, the Newcastle based seven piece band that features the classic three horn front line with Chris Jelly on vibraphone, has Dave Wilde taking on featured vocalist duties for the first time giving a post-Weller-esque sound to their own condensed acid-jazz'd Incognito/ Chevalier Brothers/ Morrissey Mullen/ Beggar & Co. cool selves.

Expect even more support from DJ fans, Craig Charles (BBC 6 Music), DJ Robbie Vincent (Jazz FM), The Relex, and more as they all line-up to pot the proverbial 9 ball!

Artist: King Bee
Title: On The Hill ft. Dave Wilde
Release date: May 10th, 2024
Label: Ramrock Red Records
Cat No: RRR061

Review: King Bee - Good To Be Back ft. Andre Espeut (Ramrock Red Records)

Can you feel a new jazz dance Brit funk happening?  Well, it's on the cards as King Bee says it's 'Good To Be Back'.

Once more, Ramrock Red Records (and Mrs Ramrock, Jo Wallace in particular) have got their finger on the UK pulse and this time it's in Newcastle we find this powerhouse of a seven piece band that features the classic three horn front line with vibraphone!

Think Incognito mixed with the Chevalier Brothers doing jazz-funk like Morrissey Mullen/Beggar & Co. brought up to date like BunnDebrett Quintet, that's a bit of a challenge to get your jazzdance feet around but definitely worth it.

And on this mighty single, in addition to the instrumental version, there's two versions featuring the vocals of Andre Espeut who you may not recognise the name but his soulful vocals have quite rightly been sought after on countless releases.

Indeed, this is not King Bee's first recorded outing eithre as they released their first single in 2016 and found fans in Craig Charles (BBC 6 Music) and went onto be remixed by DJ Smoove (yes, another fellow of the North East and to be found on forthcoming Smoove & Turrell's single 'The Light', featuring Ronnie Foster on Jalapeno Records). [Note: that's Ronnie Foster of jazz label Blue Note!]

DJ Robbie Vincent and another serious soul-funk remixer, The Relex, are also counted King Bee fans and it's easy to see why as sounding like 'Good To Be Back', they must be brilliant live; particularly going on the reworked vocal version with extra basslines and acid-jazz organ, but it's all fantastic.

Artist: King Bee

Title: Good To Be Back ft. Andre Espeut 

Release date: 31st July, 2023

Label: Ramrock Red Records

Cat. No: RRR046

Format: Bandcamp / Digital