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

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.

Wednesday, July 09, 2014

Improvisers’ Workshop @ The Jazz Café. July 8

Andy Champion (electric bass & electronics) & Wes Stephenson (drums) + Paul Edis (piano), Harley Johnson (piano), Dougie Fielder (tenor saxophone), Zoe Gilby (voice), Julie Allan (voice), ? (mandolin & cello), Penny (cello), ? (flute), Nialls ? (mandolin & shakers), ? (bodhran)
(Review by Russell).
The first in a new monthly workshop session at the Jazz Café curated by (in old money ‘led by’) bassist Andy Champion with sparring partner for the evening Wes Stephenson (drums), the question uppermost in the mind: would anyone turn up? They did, faces old and new. The jazz faces were there, so too some non-jazz faces.
Champion and Stephenson started proceedings with our seated curator looking down at an array of flashing lights on a pedal board and a half. Pianist Paul Edis was the first to throw his hat in the ring, seating himself at the upright looking, listening for an opening.
Seizing his opportunity, Edis made this opening piece a three way conversation. A good beginning to a new venture. Edis departed, leaving the floor open to all comers.
Dougie Fielder, having travelled from Cumbria, got up and gave it a go. In no time a mandolin joined the orchestra, then a cello, then, all the way from Stanley, County Durham, Harley Johnson. HJ is a pianist, a good pianist. HJ decided to dismantle the piano, front top panel then, sitting on the floor, the bottom panel. The piano lid was down. HJ didn’t seem to notice. Much banging (HJ remained seated on the floor), plucking and strumming ensued. Our pianist stood up and much banging, plucking and strumming of strings on the upper half of the upright ensued. In an aside the Jazz Café’s proprietor said: I’ll have to get the thing tuned. There was the temptation to tell HJ that the piano lid wasn’t locked.
Our mandolin player suggested HJ play the keyboard. Zoe Gilby and Julie Allan decided to add voice to the collective. Numbers grew, at one point perhaps ten musicians played together. Some knew when to drop out, at times the larger ensemble lost focus, refocused and finally resolved the improvisation. At Champion’s suggestion the final piece of the evening would begin with all ten participants starting simultaneously. And they did, with gusto (who needs Ornette?). Mid-point, mandolin attempted to subvert matters with a clearly delineated Autumn Leaves. Blink and it was gone. Next month’s workshop begins at eight o’clock, second Tuesday (August 12). Participants (all instruments) and listeners welcome.          
Russell.       

1 comment :

Lance said...

Crombie must be turning in his grave...

Blog Archive