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Bebop Spoken There

Béla Fleck: “ And that's the great thing about live performances, you take people on a journey. It doesn't have to be like something else they've heard. It's not supposed to be". DownBeat, April, 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.

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Tenth Anniversary Bash @ Sage Gateshead. Dec. 17


(Report by Lance)
Talk about a party? This was a party! OMG just so much happening! We know that when Sage Gateshead throws a party it's going to be the best thing ever outside of Buckingham Palace and the White House. In fact the only thing that shaded it for London 2012 was that Roz Rigby didn't arrive by helicopter with 007 - where was Eddie Bellis when you needed him?
Apart from that, Sage Gateshead has never had quite a night like this! Jugglers, Gymnasts, Acrobats, Unicyclist, the ISIS window cleaners (this was when we felt we felt we really needed James Bond!). The steel pans, the percussionists producing the most amazing rhythms from the staircase rails.
The poignant moment when the sombre music accompanied the spotlight on Clarence Adoo - this party wouldn't have meant anything if he hadn't been there.
Singing Happy Birthday on this the building's tenth anniversary.
And of course the hospitality in the Green Room...
Hall One: Hawthorn Primary Symphony Orchestra.
A primary school orchestra playing Vivaldi! A school in Elswick! C'mon Jesmond and Gosforth, you've got some catching up to do!
The tears were rolling down my cheeks - that's right, me, the hardboiled jazzer who goes down the mean streets of the city in search of music, sentimentalised by these kids from a deprived area playing, and obviously enjoying, music.
Back in the 60's the slogan was 'Make Love Not War', maybe we can add 'Make Music Not War''
Meanwhile, down on the Concourse, Jambone (pictured) were flying the jazz flag. Graham Hardy was fronting for Paul Edis who was pantomiming although his presence was felt in the form of his compositions.
The band were great and, with the presence of alumni Bradley Johnston on guitar to inspire them, the young soloists told the world "Move over John Coltrane, tell Miles Davis the news" - well maybe...
Back to Hall One and the Sinfonia's  Work in Progress by Jonathan Dove and Phillip Shotton.
I was uneasy about this - maybe it was me but I found the audio/video presentation at least initially confusing..
The screen above the stage flashed images of Sage Gateshead being built - 3 images at a time. The orchestra were playing which, at least for me, meant I struggled to connect images and music.
However, when it all finally did come together it was magnificent!
The Sinfonia sawing away like woodchoppers, and behind them, Jambone, the voices, the folkies, the panners and the hearts of everyone listening.
As I said, this was quite a party.
Many of the gigs overlapped and some ran on after my time to leave - sadly I missed the Hilliard Quartet - but, it had been a long day.
Let's not say here's to the next ten years - let's say here's to forever!
Lance
PS: And, like all good parties, the icing on any birthday cake is meeting people and discovering those who are on the same wavelength...

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