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Bebop Spoken There

Béla Fleck: “ And that's the great thing about live performances, you take people on a journey. It doesn't have to be like something else they've heard. It's not supposed to be". DownBeat, April, 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

Thu 28: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 28: Gateshead Jazz Appreciation Society @ Gateshead Central Library, Gateshead. 2:30pm.
Thu 28: Richard Herdman Quartet @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 28: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Guests: Josh Bentham (alto sax); Alan Marshall (tenor sax); Neil Brodie (trumpet); Adrian Beadnell (bass); Graham Thompson (keys); Steve Hunter (drums).

Fri 29: FILM: Soul @ The Forum Cinema, Hexham. 12:30pm. Jazz-themed film animation.
Fri 29: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 29: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 29: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 29: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 6:00pm. Free. POSTPONED!
Fri 29: Thundercat @ Newcastle City Hall.
Fri 29: John Logan @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 30: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 30: Pete Tanton’s Cuba Libre @ Whitley Bay Library, York Road, Whitley Bay. 8:00pm.

Sun 31: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay Metro Station. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 31: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields NE30 1HJ. 3:00pm. Free. Lambert, Alan Law & Paul Grainger.
Sun 31: Sid Jacobs & Tom Remon @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. USA/London jazz guitar duo.
Sun 31: Bellavana @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

April
Mon 01: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 01: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 3:00pm. Free.

Tue 02: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Dean Stockdale, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 03: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 03: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 03: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Monday, April 12, 2010

Graham Hardy's 'Old' Quartet @ The Cherry Tree Restaurant.

Graham Hardy (tpt/flg), Mark Williams (gtr), Neil Harland (bs), Rob Walker (dms).
I never did get to visit New York's Hickory House or The Embers back in the 1950s but I imagine it was not unlike Jesmond's Cherry Tree.
In other words, Jazz For The Carriage Trade or Music to Dine For.
Tonight, the Graham Hardy Quartet's tour continued and, in contrast to last night's experiments in rhythm, it was back to the good old GASBOOK with some tasty morsels either side of the hypothetical footlights.
What better starter is there than Alone Together taken at a nice groove whilst waiting for a Crayfish Cocktail with Marie Rose Sauce and Lemon?
This appetiser arrived as The Quartet went into My Romance - both seduced the appropriate taste-buds leaving them craving more.
I didn't think Mercy, Mercy, Mercy quite worked. No offence guys but it isn't a tune that lends itself easily to early evening Dinner Jazz. - it is a last-setter in these situations even though it was played well.
By Contrast, The Very Thought of You, which Graham blew on Flugel, was as tender as my Loin of Pork with  Mustard Sauce, Creamed Potatoes and Paris Brown Mushrooms - Merci! Merci! Merci! to both band and chef..
The set closed with How Insensitive which could also have applied to a party of noisy Italians (or Greeks or whatever) who made their presence known.
For dessert I opted for Crème Caramel with Pineapple and Rum Soaked Raisins - yo ho ho me hearty's I felt mellow after that!
The mellowness provided a cue for The Quartet to play some Ellington opening up with Graham, once more on Flugel for In A Mellow Tone. Then he did some effective plunger work on Mood Indigo. This was his solo of the night for my money.
Take The A Train had Mark in fine form both solo-wise and 'comping. In fact the fullness of his chords made it sound like the whole Ellington band was blowing behind the soloist!
I had to reluctantly leave at this point after an evening when the Cherry Tree blossomed again (thank you Liz for texting me that quote!)
Next week it's the Paul Edis Quartet with Roly on guitar and vocals, Mick Shoulder, bass and Adrian Sinclair, drums.
Lance.

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