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Bebop Spoken There

Simon Spillett: “ Bebop and hard bop came naturally to him [Tubby Hayes]". Morning Star, March 28, 2024.

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Rupert Burley (Dynamic Agency): "BSH just goes from strength to strength".

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The Strictly Smokin' Big Band included Be Bop Spoken Here (sic) in their 5 Favourite Jazz Blogs.

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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, January 10, 2015

R.I.P. Billy Mordue


(Obituary by Lance).
Sad to hear of the death of drummer Billy Mordue who passed away yesterday (Jan. 9) aged 86.
Billy played with the legendary George Evans Orchestra at Newcastle's Oxford Galleries during the 1950s then later, after leaving the Oxford, at the Blue Parrot (now the Potter's Wheel) in Sunniside. The Blue Parrot, one of the first out of town nightspots in the north east, featured the Ken Maddison Trio (Maddison on piano, Eric Dobbing on bass and, of course, Billy on drums along with singer Ethna Campbell) and were very highly regarded.
After that he joined the George Ricco Quartet (pictured) at the Cavendish Club in Newcastle. In the photo Billy is far left along with Eric Dobbing (bass); Charlie Smith (guitar) and, sitting, pianist George Richardson ("Ricco").
In 1984 he was reunited with George Evans who reformed his band for his (Evans) 70th birthday with a dance at the Mayfair Ballroom and a concert at the People's Theatre.
The Peoples gig had ten saxes, ten brass, four rhythm and two vocalists and included Tommy Whittle, Roy Williams, Stan Coates, Alan Rudd, vocalists Ivy Barnes and Johnny Moran and most of the other top guys of the time (Syd Warren, Arthur Mowatt, Mike Gilby etc.) The Carol Kidd Trio were also on the bill. I was fortunate enough to be in the audience and it was truly a memorable occasion - not least because of Billy Mordue's drumming.
When the above photo appeared on BSH in November 2012 Malcolm, Billy's son in law, informed us that Billy was in the late stages of Alzheimers but that good music still got his feet tapping!
In the photo on the right Billy Mordue is in the centre of the picture taken at the Mayfair in 1984. (names).
He will be sadly missed.
Lance.
PS: Funeral details will be posted when available.

6 comments :

Tom Render (on F/b) said...

Very sad - Billy played for me at the Tyne Theatre along with George Richardson for a production of Bugsy Malone. Lovely bloke.

Malcolm said...

Hello Lance. Billy's funeral service is to be held at Mountsett Crematorium, Dipton at 3:30pm on Tuesday 20th January. Friends are very welcome.

Lance said...

Thanks Malcolm - he deserves a good turn out.

Carol said...

Sad to hear about Billy. I remember that night very well, such a pleasure to be there.
My thoughts are with his family,
Much Love,
Carol---x

Unknown said...

Nice piece on Billy, only one correction. The photo should read Eric Dobbing on Bass.

Lance said...

Thanks to unknown for that correction - now corrected.

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