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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.

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 15, 2012

When Harry (Connick jr.) Met Roly (Veitch).

Keith Crombie's 'Jazz Cafe', still going strong in Newcastle, is the stuff of legend. Someone should write a book about it. There are countless anecdotes.
One memorable event took place on the 11th June 1993. It was one of those experiences as a musician you never forget.
That evening we had a quartet playing there - Bill Harper pno, Clem Avery bass, Miles Nicholas drms and myself gtr/vcls. Miles was a great drummer who had recently completed the music diploma at Newcastle College, he later emigrated to Australia and I often wonder what happened to him. He had a wonderful ability to 'swing'.
Also present that evening was the very young Paul Booth (with dad Eric) - even then he was amazing.
Well the word had gone round that some of Harry Connick's band may be dropping in for a blow - they had a concert at Newcastle City Hall that same evening. There was a palpable air of anticipation and excitement. Would anything happen?
Well sure enough, later in the evening, some strangers with instrument cases began to appear. The word had gone round too as there was a big crowd  - it was buzzing.
After having a drink and checking out the place they were soon over to chat to the band and keen to play.
I remember first up was a wonderful bop altoist - a tall, handsome negro called Brad Leali. What a great guy he was - he just absolutely loved to play. He actually gave me his contact details and said if ever over in NY to look him up. A year or two later I was watching some American TV show and I saw his name in the credits as MD.
Brad was soon getting the others up to play - the entire saxophone section were there. I don't have the names unfortunately but believe me they were all fantastic - a brilliant baritone player in particular. All they wanted to do was play on all evening.
Some members of the rhythm section came too, among them the guitarist. He just had a brief sit in but we had a long chat about gear etc. His name was Russell Malone - he went on to fame with Diana Krall and now has an international career in his own right.
A bit later in the evening, and in the midst of all this frenetic activity, a hooded figure appeared. Someone trying to hide his identity or just being trendy? Yes - it was Harry.
Eventually he joined in playing some drums, some bass, some piano.  He didn't say much but was there quite a while enjoying the scene before slipping away back to his hotel.
But the sax section played on, and on, and on,  joined by Paul Booth who even then could hold his own.
No one wanted to stop - I remember it was about 2.30 am when things began to wind down a bit. Even then Connick's boys wanted to play on. Phew!
Over the next few days there was quite a bit publicity about it. I dont know who did it but there were photos and write ups in the local press with headlines such as 'Harry drops in for a jam', 'Jammin' with a legend' etc.
So there it was - a memorable experience at the good old Jazz Cafe. I've often wondered about Brad Leali, what is he doing now etc. He was such a lovely person and I think he was the moving force who made it all happen.
Roly.

3 comments :

Anonymous said...

Hello Miles. What a surprise. Indeedy, still a local lad. Born in Blaydon, live in Blaydon - will probably pop off in Blaydon. Glad you are doing well - I heard you had a lot of success in Australia with the trio.
Very best wishes and I wish you continued success.
Roly

Miles Nicholas said...

Good lord! That brings back a boat load of memories. Roly! How are you? Hi Lance too! That was an amazing, surprising evening alright. I remember some fantastic playing that night not least from you, Roly. Harry's players were wonderful and Harry was also a pretty handy multi- instrumentalist. He advised me (after doing a very passable Art Blakey impression on my drums for a few numbers) that I should get some Zildjian cymbals.... Which I dutifully did later.

The evening seemed to stretch on and on and has always been a good story to trot out every now and then. Thanks for your kind comments. I went to Australia with Kyrie Miskin (trombone) and Duncan O Neill (guitar) both from the jazz course in Newcastle. We had a very successful busking band that turned into a bizarre indie pop band played all over Aussie radio and TV. Came back to the UK last year. In London writing scores for film and TV. Hope you're well, sir. Still Newcastle way?

Lance said...

Keith Crombie names the baritone player as Dave Schumacher and the tenor player as Jerry Weldon both of who can be seen/heard on YouTube as can altoist Brad Leali.

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