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Bebop Spoken There

Ambrose Akinmusire: “ I am certainly always aware of what the masses are doing. And when I see too many people going one way, I'm going another way - even when I don't know what's over that way". DownBeat, March, 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

Tue 19: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Tim Johnston.

Wed 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 20: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 20: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 21: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 21: Castillo Neuvo Trio + Conor Emery & His ‘Bones Band @ The Grove, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £10.00. (£7.00. student).
Thu 21: Remi Banklyn + Chris Corcoran Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.50. Chicago blues. An International Guitar Foundation promotion.
Thu 21: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Ragtime piano.
Thu 21: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 22: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 22: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 22: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 22: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 22: Nauta + Remy CB + Last Orders @ Hoochie Coochie, Newcastle. 8:30pm (7:30pm doors). Free.
Fri 22: Vasilis Xenopoulos-Paul Edis Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £15.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 22: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 23: Jambone @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Free (ticketed). End of term performance in the Northern Rock Foundation Hall.
Sat 23: Milne-Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 23: Red Kites Jazz @ Rowlands Gill Community Centre NE39 1JB. 7:00pm. Tickets: £12.00. (gibsidecommunityfarm@gmail.com). A ‘Build a Barn’ fundraiser. BYOB, tea/coffee available.
Sat 23: New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00. + bf (book in person at venue - no booking fee!). Featuring pianist Martin Litton.
Sat 23: Pete Tanton’s Cuba Libre @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 24: Musicians Unlimited @ Park Inn, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 24: Luis Verde @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. Verde (alto sax); Joe Steels (guitar); John Pope (double bass); John Hirst (drums). Alto sax brilliance!
Sun 24: Elsie Franklin @ The Globe, Newcastle. 3:00pm. £10.00. Country blues. An International Guitar Foundation promotion.
Sun 24: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay Metro Station. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: Las Vegas Live with the Rat Pack @ The Forum, Billingham.
Sun 24: Ian Millar & Dominic Spencer @ Otterburn Memorial Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Sun 24: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Note start time - 7:00pm.
Sun 24: Bold Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 25: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Friday, May 24, 2013

Dropping Bombs @ Hoochie Coochie May 23.

Danny Allan (alt/clt); David Gray (tpt/tmb); James Harrison (keys); Ian Simpson (gtr); James Robson (bs/bs gtr); Tom Chapman (dms); Belinda Voshinta (vcl).
(Review by Lance.)
Jazz is dead? Nah! I'm hearing so many fantastic young musicians these days that I'm sure it is very much alive!
Tonight was quite amazing. Tell me the last time you heard a boisterous traddy version of Bourbon Street Parade followed by All Blues? You heard it tonight!
Yes, Dropping Bombs came on like Katrina with jaw-dropping ferocity when they hit us with Bourbon Street. David Gray demonstrated his ever increasing prowess slidewise with a sort of modern tailgate that blew the cobwebs out of the cobwebs! This guy - like the other bombers - is on a roll. Danny Allan on clarinet kept the spirit of New Orleans alive and Tom Chapman had some breaks the late Lennie Hastings would have been proud of.
All Blues also featured young Gray although this time he was on trumpet doing Miles! Allan switched to alto and Harrison as he did all evening directed and soloed with panache.
Up stepped Belinda Voshtina and knocked us sideways with the Frim Fram Sauce - love this song. I was less enamoured of My Funny Valentine - perhaps I've heard it once (no make that a 100 times) too often but I'm afraid it passed me by.
Back to the delta for St. James Infirmary Blues. A plaintive trumpet statement of the theme built up to a soul bursting climax with everyone having their say. When you've got to go this is the place to do it. The RVI Blues just wouldn't sound the same.
Belinda returned for a spritely Moon Dance followed by a Caravan that exceeded the motorway speed limit by plenty. One of the highlights was Gray's lengthy quote from Sweet Georgia Brown another was the keyboard/voice exchanges between Voshtina and Harrison. Oh and let's not forget Simpson on guitar, Allan's searing alto, Robson's bass solo and the skin bashing from Chapman - take a bow chaps.
This was only the first set and already the adrenalin was circulating as fast as the bar staff were shaking cocktails.
Belinda opened up with - no prizes for guessing - Summertime. If I ever meet a girl singer who doesn't sing Summertime (or Valentine) I'll probably ask her mother to marry me! However, it has to be said that this version bore no resemblance whatsoever to the Porgy and Bess original. Harrison went into Hammond mode hitting the keys with hands, fists, elbows and god knows what else! This became an almost free form free for all that had the crowd roaring their approval
There were more delights - too many to mention although the rhythm section feature did bring a little sanity into the evening. The clock was inching its way towards 11pm and the number 27 was due although if I'd been the driver I'd have stopped the bus outside Hoochie and ordered the passengers to go inside and hear the truth!
Lance.

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