About This Blog

Bebop Spoken Here -- Here, being the north-east of England -- centred in the blues heartland of Newcastle and reaching down to the Tees Delta and looking upwards to the Land of the Kilt.
Not a very original title, I know; not even an accurate one as my taste, whilst centred around the music of Bird and Diz, extends in many directions and I listen to everything from King Oliver to Chick Corea and beyond. Not forgetting the Great American Songbook the contents of which has provided the inspiration for much great jazz and quality popular singing for round about a century.
The idea of this blog is for you to share your thoughts and pass on your comments on discs, gigs, jazz - music in general. If you've been to a gig/concert or heard a CD that knocked you sideways please share your views with us. Tell us about your favourites, your memories, your dislikes.

Lance Liddle (Who wishes it to be known that he is not responsible for postings other than his own and that he's not always responsible for them.)
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Contact: lanceliddle@gmail.com I look forward to hearing from you.
Cast a glance at my photo gallery. At this moment in time there are almost 2000 original photos and counting ...
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Shields Gazette Review of Site.
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New Comments on Old Posts

Dec 22: Chad Taylor Drum Clinic @ Gateshead Old Town Hall. 8th October. (New comment by 'Bathmate'.)
Dec 12: Gig of the Year (New comment from Roly, Ray & Robert).
Nov 24: cluny-double-bill-game-of-two-halves.html (New comment from anonymous).
Nov 22: Malcolm Laycock (New comment from Lance/Sunday Express)
Nov 22: Sheila Jordan (New Comment by Hil).
Nov 18: Boiler room (New comment from Chris Geehan.)
Nov 16: Schmazz Factor - The Cluny. (New comments from Pawel and Long Lonesome Go.)
Nov 12: R.I.P. Stacy Rowles. (New comment from Tito Puente Latin Giants.)
Nov 13: Dewy-Eyed (New comment from Mike D)
Sept. 30: Blue Horizons by Chris Yates (New comment by Roly).


Saturday, 12 September 2009

MJQ (Michael Janisch Quintet) @ Live Theatre, Newcastle.

Michael Janisch (bs/bsgtr), Paul Booth (ten/alt), Jason Palmer (tpt/flug), Jim Hart (vbs), Clarence Penn (dms).
This has been quite a week for live jazz and, with Scarborough on the horizon, it looks set to continue. Tonight there was even a choice! Andy Shephard was 50 miles away out west at Lanercost Priory and it did look very tempting. However, the Michael Janisch Quintet were at Live Theatre - a mere 7 miles from where I hang my hat so MJQ won the day.
The Live Theatre gig, the first of Jazz Northeast's Autumn Program drew a reasonable crowd and I don't think they were disappointed. I certainly wasn't.
This was an imaginative program of mainly original pieces by Janisch, "Love is a Many Splendored Thing" and Strayhorn's "Bloodcount" being the two exceptions. "Lost Creek", for me, stood out amongst the originals although all were impressive; a Mingus inspired piece showing where Michael's bass technique came from. As well as playing mighty fine bass he introduced each number with humour and informative content.
LIAMST was a showcase for the U.K.'s Jim Hart whose 4 mallet technique is something special - he himself is something very special - I can't recall hearing a better vibist.
"Bloodcount"; evocative and delicate. Drawing the harmonic properties to the forefront.
Paul Booth, the only other non American and originally from Durham, lost nothing by comparision with his world class colleagues and he blew up the proverbial storm. His saxual prowess is awesome and, as the guy who sold him his first sax, I feel a kind of a paternal pride in his achievements.
Trumpeter Jason Palmer has quickly become one of the most in demand jazz musicians of his generation. The June 2007 issue of Downbeat Magazine cited Jason as one of the Top 25 trumpeters of the Future - I'd reduce that figure considerably. Tonight, Jason Palmer played some exciting stuff reminiscent at times of Miles or Lee Morgan.
Drummer Penn from NYC also excelled. Penn is another widely sort after player and tonight we knew why. He kicked!
Chatting with Paul Booth during the interval he asked if I was going to Scarborough informing me that he's playing with four different bands at the Festival - including MJQ so, on tonight's performance, take my word for it, Scarborough is the place to be next weekend.
Lance.

5 comments; click to add more:

russell said...

Hi Lance

Another great gig here in the north east. I agree that ''Lost Creek'' with Paul Booth's contribution was a highlight. The M Base tune in the second set was another highlight, as was Strayhorn's ''Blood Count''. Live Theatre is certainly one of the better venues in which to hear jazz and Michael Janisch seemed to like it a lot.

Russell

russell said...

Hi Lance

The ''slide show'' is excellent. The black and white images are particularly effective; those of Paul Booth and Jason Palmer ''sitting out'', as it were, the one of Janisch and Palmer is tremendous. There's a hard - back coffee table book of jazz photography in there somewhere!

Russell

Lance said...

I think William Claxton got there first!

Jim said...

Greetings Lance,
The stunning skills of MJQ are awesome. The sheer beauty of Blood Count confirmed this for me.
Well done Jazz North East and all who made this gig possible.
Jim.

Adrian T said...

Sorry I had to miss the gig - I'm going to try and get to Scarborough for the Friday concert. Just wanted to say that your photos of the band are excellent, great atmosphere - well done.

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