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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, October 01, 2015

Side by Side by Sondheim - Bury Theatre and Players Theatre, Hurstpierpoint. Sept 25/26


(Review by Liz, our girl in York, in Hurstpierpoint)
A little bit of magic happened in the village of Hurstpierpoint last weekend. We were treated to the musical revue Side by Side by Sondheim by Gin Palace Productions as part of the Hurst Festival.
For those who are not familiar with the work of Stephen Sondheim, here we have one of the greatest musical theatre composers of all time. The man is a genius, he will move you to tears with his heart- breaking lyrics and split your sides with laughter at his pithy observations on love, lust, marriage and everything in between On the other hand, anyone familiar with Stephen Sondheim’s work knows it is tricky to pull off.
I first saw this Tony Award-winning musical at the Stables in Wavendon in the mid 70’s. That night, the home of the Dankworth’s, was a glittering occasion with the stars of the show, Millicent Martin, Julia Mackenzie, David Kernan and narration by Ned Sherrin. It raised the rafters. 
So here in Gin Palace Productions we have a trio of singers and a wonderfully gifted musical director bringing this sparkling musical revue to out doorsteps, working their socks off to showcase the many sides of a man who writes unforgettable songs that are heartbreakingly true and music that captures the heart.
A simple stage setting with minimum props began with our cast dressed immaculately in black and white. Let me introduce Samantha Nixon (right of pic), Frances Wise, Alasdair Carson-Sheard and, on piano, Musical Director Richard Coppack. Their pedigree is immaculate as we discover reading from the programme. They began with Comedy Tonight/Love is in the Air from A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, perfectly harmonised with a nice little explanation from Alasdair. This company dispensed with the usual narration from the wings, each member, when not actually singing, explained the storyline with comic asides giving the audience a flavour of what was to come.
Act 1 featured many numbers from Company and Follies dealing with the intricacies of marriage and relationships, subjects we could all identify with, judging by the titters from the audience. Highlights were many and particular mention must be made of Alasdair’s achingly sad I Remember Sky from Evening Primrose. His voice laced with emotion, timing perfect, and genuine tears, it was a magical moment. Such was the impact on the audience on that first night that no applause ensued, just a stunned silence.
Sam Nixon’s Broadway Baby was full of verve, and the duet Barcelona between her and Alasdair from Company was quite wonderful, she with her wide eyed naivety and he with his withering glances, the chemistry was spot on.
Frances Wise gave a wonderfully vampish performance with I Never Do Anything Twice. This performer, better known in the London area for her jazz background, was particularly good In The Boy From where humour abounded. Earlier, in the fast moving and tongue twisting lyric Getting Married Today, she excelled as Amy, along with Sam and; Alisdair interspersing with their take on her imminent wedding - or not! 
Who could fail to be moved by Alasdair’s Being Alive, with Bobby’s poignant plea building into a wonderful crescendo and the first act ending with an inspiring take on the Andrews Sisters and You Could Drive a Person Crazy from Company? 
Act 2 gave us the ever popular Send in the Clowns with Frances’ well portrayed Desiree Armfeldt to Alasdair’s Fredrik from A Little Night Music, and who could not fail to be moved by Sam Nixon’s so appealing Maria in I Have a Love, from West Side Story? her coupling with Frances was superb. Sam with her clear and pure soprano declaring her love and Fran’s A Boy Like That with her pleas for caution. Difficult though it is to avoid singling out more of these exquisite numbers, for this particular reviewer, my all-time favourite had to be Losing my Mind from Follies. This tortured lyric from Sam Nixon was in a class of its own. 
The evening was drawn to a close by a clever Conversation Piece embracing even more of Sondheim’s gems. It seemed we, the audience, just couldn’t get enough and the standing ovation proved it. 
Finally, a word about the musical Director, Richard Coppack. His juxtapositioning of notes was simply amazing, him being the only pianist in a production that normally has two. 
This company is one to watch, miss them at your peril!
Liz

2 comments :

Lance said...

Thanks Liz, not a jazz gig I know, but your writing gave it a jazz feeling and, for me, it brought the show alive, made me feel as if I'd been there.
Sondheim wrote some great stuff..

Liz said...

Well Lance, it is for me to thank you for spreading the good news to the readers of BSH, proud to be included...

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