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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.

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Strictly Smokin' Big Band @ Hoochie Coochie

Michael Lamb (MD), Pete Tanton (tpt), Gordon Marshall, Dick Stacey (tmpts); Don Fairley, John Flood, Chris Gurgi-Smith, Mark Ferris (tmb); Steve Summers. Niall Armstrong (alt); Paul Gowland, Jamie Toms (ten); Laurie Rangecroft (bar); Marc Joliffe (pno); Pawel Jedzejewski (gtr); Michael Whent (bs); Guy Swinton (dms); Lindsay Hannon. James Hedley (vcl). 
(Review by Lance)
Stan Kenton proclaimed at the end of his recording of Prologue,  "This is an Orchestra!" Michael Lamb would have been equally justified in making a similar proclamation after this afternoon's session at Hoochie Coochie. He didn't need to - the packed bar knew exactly what they'd heard and, if there were any complaints, it was having to wait 3 months for the next one!
In the confined, low-ceilinged venue that is Hoochie, hearing a power house unit like this is the most mind-blowing experience you're ever going to experience outside of ODing on London Pride.
Unbelievable, sitting in the dugout it was, close your eyes and you're at the Reno Club in Kansas City, or maybe the Village Vanguard with Thad and Mel.
Leader Michael Lamb with his full toned Fats/Clifford sound, Pete Tanton, cooler but not frigid, Tenors Gowland and Toms - Basie or Woody would have used them any time. Steve Summers, alto king and a rhythm section to die for.
There were a couple of singers too...
James Hedley Let The Good Times Roll a la Louis Jordan (not Ray Charles) and it set the mood for the best afternoon session for many a 12 bar.
Five Foot Two Eyes of Blue, Big Mama Cass, Lester Leaps In kept things swinging 'til James' returned for The Way You Look Tonight and Beyond the Sea - were there two better gasbook songs ever written? Of course there were, but at this moment in time I can't bring them to mind.
Lindsay enquired as to How High The Moon escaping the Fashion Police en route to stage (only joking kid!).
Her OK You Win was probably the best version ever apart from the Joe Williams original recording. A Tisket a Tasket paid tribute to Ella.
The set concluded with a crazy Caravan and Autumn Leaves - a song for all seasons!
More beers and hellos and handshakes and wondering why there were so many people in the club.
The band's version of Isn't She Lovely? gave an indication but it was the no hold's barred Sweet Georgia Brown that did it for me.
Lindsay sang Angel Eyes, James, It Had To Be You - a most dramatic entrance! - and, it suddenly occurred to me that this was one of the best big band sessions I'd heard since hearing the Buddy Rich Band at Ronnie's a long time ago!
Photos.
Lance.

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