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Bebop Spoken There

Ambrose Akinmusire: “ I am certainly always aware of what the masses are doing. And when I see too many people going one way, I'm going another way - even when I don't know what's over that way". DownBeat, March, 2024.

The Things They Say!

Hudson Music: Lance's "Bebop Spoken Here" is one of the heaviest and most influential jazz blogs in the UK.

Rupert Burley (Dynamic Agency): "BSH just goes from strength to strength".

'606' Club: "A toast to Lance Liddle of the terrific jazz blog 'Bebop Spoken Here'"

The Strictly Smokin' Big Band included Be Bop Spoken Here (sic) in their 5 Favourite Jazz Blogs.

Ann Braithwaite (Braithwaite & Katz Communications) You’re the BEST!

Holly Cooper, Mouthpiece Music: "Lance writes pull quotes like no one else!"

Simon Spillett: A lovely review from the dean of jazz bloggers, Lance Liddle...

Josh Weir: I love the writing on bebop spoken here... I think the work you are doing is amazing.

Postage

16287 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 169 of them this year alone and, so far, 41 this month (Mar 18).

From This Moment On ...

March

Tue 19: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Tim Johnston.

Wed 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 20: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 20: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 21: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 21: Castillo Neuvo Trio + Conor Emery & His ‘Bones Band @ The Grove, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £10.00. (£7.00. student).
Thu 21: Remi Banklyn + Chris Corcoran Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.50. Chicago blues. An International Guitar Foundation promotion.
Thu 21: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Ragtime piano.
Thu 21: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 22: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 22: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 22: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 22: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 22: Nauta + Remy CB + Last Orders @ Hoochie Coochie, Newcastle. 8:30pm (7:30pm doors). Free.
Fri 22: Vasilis Xenopoulos-Paul Edis Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £15.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 22: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 23: Jambone @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Free (ticketed). End of term performance in the Northern Rock Foundation Hall.
Sat 23: Milne-Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 23: Red Kites Jazz @ Rowlands Gill Community Centre NE39 1JB. 7:00pm. Tickets: £12.00. (gibsidecommunityfarm@gmail.com). A ‘Build a Barn’ fundraiser. BYOB, tea/coffee available.
Sat 23: New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00. + bf (book in person at venue - no booking fee!). Featuring pianist Martin Litton.
Sat 23: Pete Tanton’s Cuba Libre @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 24: Musicians Unlimited @ Park Inn, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 24: Luis Verde @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. Verde (alto sax); Joe Steels (guitar); John Pope (double bass); John Hirst (drums). Alto sax brilliance!
Sun 24: Elsie Franklin @ The Globe, Newcastle. 3:00pm. £10.00. Country blues. An International Guitar Foundation promotion.
Sun 24: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay Metro Station. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: Las Vegas Live with the Rat Pack @ The Forum, Billingham.
Sun 24: Ian Millar & Dominic Spencer @ Otterburn Memorial Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Sun 24: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Note start time - 7:00pm.
Sun 24: Bold Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 25: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Zoe Gilby Quartet @The Georgian Theatre, Stockton

Zoe, vocals ; Mark Williams, guitar ; Andy Champion, double bass ; Richard Brown, drums. Well there weren't a great deal of people turned out for a choice gig like this on a Stockton Thursday. The high ceiling and high stage didn't really do anything for the intimacy either but, the black backcloth was great for photos and the echo made the generous applause sound encouraging. This set was advertised as a quintet but Noel Dennis (trumpet) couldn't make it. Nevertheless, the as-ever undaunted Zoe sang as if the place was packed. Still reeling from her birthday and flashing an unexpected present from Andy - the knee imprint is still visible on Cullercoats beach - of white gold with diamond solitaire, Zoe set off in style with two engaging numbers: Cole Porter's, "You'd be so Nice to Come Home To" and of course, turning to Andy, "I Only Have Eyes for You" - ah! Gradually feeding us the Bass & Vocals duo set for Marsden's (West Yorks) October Jazz Festival, we were treated to another of Andy's daring arrangements - "Nice Work if You can Get it", with fantastic counterpoint and harmonic high wire tricks from Zoe - no safety net - exhilarating. For a Monk fan it was great to hear her passionate delivery of Carmen McRae's ironic take on "Round Midnight" and "Get it Straight" (Straight No Chaser) - Mark really lighting the blue touch paper on the latter with some cracking, jumping jack repetitions that had me hoping (or was it hopping) that the Saltpetre would never run out! The fireworks then spread to Andy, working his fingerboard right to the edge in all respects - green, red, blue stars, falling over Stockton! More pyrotechnics, this time from drummer Richard Brown in Andy & Zoe's bossa nova arrangement of Jimmy Van Heusen's "Darn That Dream" - a good solo, considering the difficult sound bounce in such a big box of a theatre. The reverb was also difficult in "Weaver of Dreams" where brushes might have come in useful to keep with the soft lullaby feel. Then, as the Roman Candles were reduced to a glow, Mark Williams created such a deep Mississippi blues solo in "Angel Eyes" that you could feel the wash. Finally, there have been reports of scat singing being overdone - can't comment on the others, but tonight's solos were deftly delivered and gave us a chance to hear Zoe's higher pitches and trapeze like chromatic control ; anyway, someone had to stand in for Noel Dennis! This woman is a natural and should be performing to bigger houses. Take it easy Zoe, but Take it! George M.
Photos. (courtesy of Gabrielle)

1 comment :

Lance said...

Thanks George - sounds like it was one good gig. Love must have inspired our girl Zoe.
Lucky Andy.
Unlucky Stockton for not turning out in their masses.
Thanks also to Gabrielle for the photos.

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