Total Pageviews

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.

Saturday, April 05, 2014

GIJF - Day One. Norrbotten Big Band, Django Bates, Northern Monkey Brass Band, Djangologie. Sage Gateshead, April 4.

Norrbotten Big Band: Joakin Milder (trn/md).
Django Bates (pno); Peter Eldh (bs); Martin France (dms).
(Review by Lance).
I'm unfamiliar with the music of Prefab Sprout. I shouldn't be, their "roots" are in the north east and, in my 9 - 5 days, I sold them many a guitar string - sometimes even a set - so I have no excuse. In truth, I'm none the wiser and the infatuation with them by this Swedish band remains a mystery. Nevertheless, the arrangements were good and the soloists impressive.
The big problem for me wasn't an audio one but a visual one. The rhythm section occupied the front of the stage with brass and reed sections obscured from view - at least they were from my seat in row D.
I could hear them but couldn't see them! I wanted to see the trumpets standing and reaching for the stars, the trombones blending mellifluously and the saxes weaving their intricate lines together as one. This they all did of course but it was like hearing a football match on radio rather than being in the stands.
That niggle aside it was an enjoyable set with some impressive drumming (mainly with mallets) by Lisbeth Diers.
Django Bates and cohorts took up their stance in front of the big band and Django treated us to his take on his "Dearly Beloved Bird". I'd heard him do this at a previous Sage concert with the quartet but this was the first time I'd heard him do it with a larger ensemble.
I enjoyed it. The mix of original takes on Charlie Parker associated numbers such as Donna Lee, Ah Leu Cha, Star Eyes, My Little Suede Shoes, Laura and Confirmation along with Bates' own The Study of Touch and We're Not Lost We Are Simply Finding Our Way made this an interesting start to the festival.
I stay start but in fact the whole shebang actually started earlier on the Concourse when the Northern Monkey Brass Band (pictured left) made their way to the stage, meandering individually from various nooks and crannies of the vast space. A trumpet to the left of us, a trombone to the right, a bass drum that seemingly walked across the water and others emerging from out of nowhere until, eventually, they converged as one on stage in a glorious cacophony of sound and the stomping proper began.
Later, on the Concourse, we left one Django for another - Djangologie. 
After the intensity of Hall One this was like the first breath of spring. The quartet filling the area (and the air) with music. Nothing pretentious just good old fashioned (and I use that expression in the best possible way) swing. Nothing could follow that for me!
The Best Things in Life are Free? Sometimes they are!
Lance (Photo courtesy of Ken Drew).

1 comment :

Steve Crocker said...

"Dearly Beloved Bird" with the big band was played beautifully, by fantastic musicians but I found it hard to enjoy. Music from the head not the heart? Bill Frisell though, saw him in Leeds last night, definitely from the heart, you're in for a treat! Steve

Blog Archive