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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.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Simon Spillett Quartet @ Kings Head Crouch End.

Strolling leisurely by Kings Cross station, an unusual act in itself - strolling by Kings Cross - who should I bump into but Eugene, husband of Debra - the Budvivar Thrush. Nothing to do with Simon Spillett but I just thought it would add some colour. Eugene reminded me that I once sold him a viola so his secret is out.
Now to the gig itself selected in preference to Freddy Cole at Ronnie's and Tomorrow's Warriors at Peter Parker's new jazz venue on Denmark St.
Simon Spillett (ten/sop), John Critchinson (pno), Andy Cleyndert (bs), Martin Drew (dms).
The King's Head in Crouch End is reminiscent of my vision of a Parisien Jazz Cave. Low ceilinged, dimly lit and populated with a select coterie of fans.
Simon Spillett is surely the fastest tenor in town - any town - as he proved whizzing through the changes of In The Still of the Night, By Myself, Oleo and Lament. This is tenor playing that almost defies belief and yet, there were times when I wanted to cry 'slow down!' Not very often I hasten to add.
The second set saw more blistering blowing on What Is This Thing Called Love? but on Gentle Rain - a feature for Andy Cleyndert - Simon discarded the demi-semi-quavers for some meaningful, soulful playing as gentle as the rain being portrayed.
More heroics On Green Dolphin Street and a soprano blast on Clark Terry's The Simple Waltz before the final charge to the line on Coltrane's Some Other Blues.
Whew!
Of course it wasn't all saxophone - John Critchinson once again proved himself on a par with any of his contemporaries as did Martin and Andy. A quartet of this calibre should have been turning them away at the door.
Magnificent.
Lance.
PS: To continue on the small world theme, the MC at the King's Head is Tynemouth tenor player Martin Simon's brother-in-law! His sister chatted about the late bass player Malcolm Moyer.

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