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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

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.

Friday, July 27, 2012

CD Review: Ellington Saxophone Encounters. Mark Masters' Ensemble

Gary Foster, Don Shelton (alt/clt); Gene Cipriano, Pete Christlieb (ten); Gary Smulyan (bar); Bill Cunliffe (pno); Tom Warrington (bs); John La Barbera (dms).
(Review by Lance).
The idea was to take compositions by five of Ellington's major sax players - Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Ben Webster, Jimmy Hamilton and Harry Carney and arrange them for a sax section comprising of five of today's leading players. The result, to put it mildly, is sensational!
The opening Esquire Swank (Hodges/Ellington) hit me right between the eyes! What a sax section sound and what solos! Down Beat Poll Winner Smulyan who co-lead the project with arranger/composer Mark Masters opens up the batting with a blistering, yet melodic, baritone solo with Christlieb on tenor stripping a bit more paint from the ceiling! In between, Cuncliffe plays some Ducal piano and the bar had been set for what was to follow.
With the exception of Rockin' in Rhythm and Jeeps Blues, this isn't the normal well-used Ellington fare but instead a choice selection by the above mentioned sidemen.
Smulyan is heavily featured in the Harry Carney role bringing a feeling of modernity to the veteran anchorman's work. We're in Love Again is a particularly sumptuous rendition and, surprisingly, Hodges' Jeeps Blues is also a baritone feature - it works beautifully. 
Christlieb is a monster of a tenor player covering both Webster and Gonsalves with authority and originality as does Cipriano who comes across as having a definite affinity to Gonsalves particularly on Peaches (Hodges).. Foster blows cool sounding alto that blends well and Shelton's clarinet echoes Jimmy Hamilton without cloning.
The saxes may have got the gold medals but listen to Bill Cunliffe's piano - like Duke - an inspiration throughout
And of course the whole thing couldn't have worked without Mark Masters' arrangements and his, pardon the pun, masterly direction of the ensemble.
The rhythm section is worthy of any Ellington Orchestra and, although it is barely August, I think this will be well in the running for my record of the year.
Ellington Saxophone Encounters by Mark Masters Ensemble. The American Jazz Institute/Capri Records. Release date August 21, 2012.
Lance.

2 comments :

Russell said...

I've got to hear this one.

Steve Owen said...

This looks brilliant, can't wait to hear this

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