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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, June 07, 2015

CD Review: Maria Schneider Orchestra – The Thompson Fields.

(Review by David Brownlow).
The Thompson Fields is Maria Schneider’s eighth production for the  ArtistShare label and she has certainly come a long way in her career since she worked as Gil Evans’ Assistant in the mid 80s. She is an extremely talented composer who is a master of harmony, and a formidable arranger who fully utilises all the tone - colours provided by her nineteen piece Big Band with all the usual Reeds, Brass, and Rhythm sections but without recourse to electronic instruments as Gil himself did in his latter years.
Maria’s inspiration for the eight tracks comes from her love of the natural world of her home environment in Minnesota. The songs reflect the beauty of the “sights, sounds and smells of nature’s bounty.” This is quasi-classical through-composed music played by jazz musicians with jazz solos from outstanding players such as Scott Robinson, Frank Kimbrough and Marshall Gilkes. The charts are all beautifully played with a high standard of musicianship as a “given.”
Walking By Flashlight – inspired by a poem by Ted Koosner - is meditative and wistful with a warm solo from Scott Robinson on alto clarinet. The Monarch and the Milkweed is meandering, reflective piece with an astonishing trombone solo from Marshall Gilkes and a thoughtful flowing one from Greg Gisbert on fluegelhorn. The piece builds throughout the twelve minute performance culminating in a passage where the soloists improvise together. Arbiters of Evolution inspires Maria by the exotic displays and behaviours of the extraordinary Birds of Paradise of New Guinea. Here, a strong framework supports beautiful solos from Donny McCaslin and Scott Robinson. A highlight of the album The Thompson Fields is a meandering piece which features some gorgeous writing for brass, together with piano and guitar solos which complement the composer’s feel for the open prairies. Home opens chorale-like with lovely Evans-esque harmonies. Rich Perry’s tenor solo continues the contemplative mood. This piece is dedicated to George Wein whose Newport Jazz Festival gave Maria many career opportunities. 
Nimbus is a brooding, threatening song in a minor mood with dissonance throughout, especially in Steve Wilson’s alto solo. This bleak, dramatic background is at times reminiscent of Gil Evans’ The Barbara Song and is inspired by the occasion when a tornado headed towards Maria’s home and the resulting reactions of herself and her parents.
A Potter’s Song is a moving tribute to recently deceased trumpeter Laurie Frink – a long-time associate in Maria’s band. This features the accordion of Gary Versace and is the stand-out track for me. The melody and chord sequence take many unexpected turns, but each one resolves harmonically and “right.” The final track Lembranca is Maria’s take on Paulo Moura and his Samba School in Rio de Janeiro. This thirteen and a half minute long piece features a solo from trombonist Ryan Keberle in an energetic opening segment full of dynamic percussion work which segues into a calm contrasting section with a very listenable melodic bass solo from Jay Anderson. This leads to a quiet conclusion to all the excitement.
There has been a huge amount of work required to produce such an album as this and the funding for the project has come from the many participants in the ArtistShare fan base. The CD itself comes in a lavish hard-backed case with outstanding artwork and photographs illustrating the flora and fauna of Maria’s homeland area and is available from ArtistShare.
David B.
Maria Schneider (Conductor, Composer & Arranger) Steve Wilson, Dave Pietro, Rich Perry, Donny McCaslin. Scott Robinson (Reeds). Tony Kadleck, Greg Gisbert, Augie Haas, Mike Rodriguez, Keith O’Quinn, Ryan Keberle, Marshall Gilkes, George Flynn, (Brass).Gary Versace (Accordion), Lage Lund (Guitar) Frank Kimbrough (Piano) Jay Anderson (Bass), Clarence Penn (Dms) Rogerio Boccato (Percussion)

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