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Bebop Spoken There

Simon Spillett: “ Bebop and hard bop came naturally to him [Tubby Hayes]". Morning Star, March 28, 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

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.
Fri 29: True Colours @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 9:00pm. Blues, jazz & swing.

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.

Thu 04: FILM: Soul @ Forum Cinema, Hexham. 2:00pm. Jazz-themed film animation.
Thu 04: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 04: Funky Drummer @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 04: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 04: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Tuesday, March 08, 2011

IT’S INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY TODAY

Women Jazz Singers, yes, we don’t have to go very far locally to hear really talented female singers such as Zoe Gilby (she’s Champion!.. geddit?); Ruth Lambert, who performs regularly with the Customs House Big Band; Lindsay Hannon, who teaches at the Sage, from whence emerged Gaby, Claire and lots of others- please don’t be offended if I haven’t mentioned you, people should get themselves along to the Jazz Cafe sessions on Sunday afternoons to hear some of these people, to say nothing about the exciting women instrumentalists who are on the scene, but they would deserve to have a separate piece written about them. I think readers will have caught my drift by now. Yes, women singers have made a tremendous contribution to Jazz, and we all know the names of the Greats from the past, such as Ella and Billie. I’d just like to mention one of my personal favourites. This singer was already dead before I learned about her, when I attended Chris Yates Jazz Appreciation classes in Newcastle. I’m referring to Anita O’Day (1919-2006), who was born Anita Belle Colton, and packed lots into her lifetime, such as surviving heroin addiction, difficult personal relationships, and performances all over the world, including Ronnie Scott’s and, I'm told by our editor, Newcastle City Hall (see poster). She spent the Depression years as a marathon dancer, and learnt drumming. That must be how she acquired stamina and a great sense of rhythm. Anita sang with the bands of Stan Kenton and Gene Krupa as well working with musicians such as Barney Kessel and the studio orchestras of Billy May and Buddy Bregman. She comfortably bridged the Big Band Swing and Bebop eras. She is not so much of a household name as other singers and I’m not sure why this is. She’s very much a Jazz singer, without much influence of Blues or Gospel. One of her best performances was at the Newport Jazz Festival of 1958, featured in the film ‘Jazz on a Summer’s Day’. She does Sweet Georgia Brown and Tea for Two. See it for yourself on YouTube or on DVD. Ann Alex

5 comments :

Lance said...

I wonder why it is that these days women jazz singers seem to outnumber the men by about a hundred to one?

Unknown said...

Jazz seems to be much slower than other types of music at embracing equality. The average classical orchestra will have a far higher proportion of women than a big band or jazz group.

After 100 years of jazz, female instrumentalists are still very rare and I think that jazz musicians (and audiences) are responsible for that.

Fran said...

I enjoyed your piece on women jazz singers for Women’s Day.
Fran Hardcastle.
(LondonJazz/Basho Records)

Liz said...

A well written piece, thanks Ann
Liz

Ann Alex said...

Thanks to Fran and Liz for the kind comments.
Lance, it may be because women tend to be associated with love songs more than men are.
Blue, the lack of women instrumentalists is the same as in rock music, but there are now lots of female instrumentalists in folk music. As for equality I feel very well treated as an audience member, and I've mainly been with women for my singing, and don't know what it's like to be a woman instrumentalist. I don't think I'd cut the mustard with my penny whistle, with either men or women!

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