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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, May 28, 2013

CD Review: Ira Wiggins - When Freedom Swings.

Ira Wiggins (ten/fl); Cyrus Chestnut (pno - 8 tracks); Ed Paulantonio (pno - 4 tracks); Baron Tymas (gtr 4 tracks); Joe Metzger (vbs/mar - 4 tracks); Alvester Garnett (dms - 7 tracks); Thomas Taylor (dms - 5 tracks); Herman Burney (bs); Mavis "Swan" Poole (vcl - 2 tracks).
(Review by Lance).
Ira Wiggins, Director of Jazz Studies at North Carolina Central University, has shared the stage with such luminaries as Jimmy Heath, Grady Tate, Fred Wesley, Louis Bellson, Nneenna Freelon and Branford Marsalis but, after 15 albums as soloist and sideman, this is his first outing on record as leader and he seizes the moment with both hands in the course of this most delightful double CD.
The first disc comprises mainly originals by Wiggins and displays his warm tenor sound.inspired, he claims, by Jimmy Heath as well as his Moody-like fluting. The two non-originals are the Stylistics' People Make the World Go Round and Joe Henderson's Inner Urge - the latter features Mavis "Swan" Poole doing a nifty vocalese. Mavis is also heard on the bluesy title track When Freedom Swings.. 
Disc 2 has Killer Joe, In a Sentimental Mood, Bloomdido, Cherokee, Christmastime is Here and Gene Ammons' Red Top. On all but the last number, Wiggins plays flute in a quartet setting where the influence of James Moody is ever present although he also acknowledges Hubert Laws along the way. which isn't a bad place to be. On Red Top  he displays a gutsy feel reminiscent of the composer.
Other moments to savour are Chestnut's piano work. In 2005 Time Magazine described him as "The best jazz pianist of his generation" - an accolade that still holds true.
In an age when so much contemporary jazz comes across as Anti-swing a disc like this restores my faith in the music. 
To quote from the booklet notes: "When Freedom Swings represents a philosophy asserting that jazz is a musical art form that perfectly describes the ideals of democracy. Many authorities agree that freedom is best expressed and realized within boundaries. Therefore, it may be noted that within the framework of a jazz piece, (melody, harmony and form), freedom is realized in the collective creative improvisational process of a group of musicians simultaneously contributing to the composition within the boundaries, or occasionally, expanding or stepping outside of a domain."
Ira Wiggins - When Freedom Swings was released on May 28 on IWIGGS Music, inc.
Lance.

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