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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.

Saturday, March 19, 2016

And Even More GIJF - Lance talks to Simon Spillett About Tubby Hayes.

Bebop Spoken Here interviewed Simon Spillett ahead of his concert at GIJF.
BSH: You’re playing Gateshead International Jazz Festival this year in a rather special concert.

Yes, it's a double-header featuring the recently released documentary film 'Tubby Hayes – A Man in A Hurry' and my quartet playing a set of Tubby's music.

BSH: Tubby’s music has obviously played a major part in your life, very much influencing your own playing.

His music has been a massive shaping force in my life and has provided the major stylistic compass for my playing.

BSH: Is this going to be, ultimately, an albatross around your neck? I’m thinking of Quinichette and Lester Young, Stitt and Parker who never quite broke free of their inspiration.

Sounds like critic-speak to me! Frankly, I don't care whether anyone thinks it's an albatross or not. I like that style of playing and it's given me something positive to focus on. Playing Tubby's music (and that type of jazz generally) seems a worthwhile endeavour to me and I'm too busy enjoying it to think about whether it's holding me back or not!

BSH: You’ve also written what will surely come to be regarded as the definitive biography despite, because he died so young, never having met him or even heard him live other than on record. This must surely be one of your biggest regrets?

I was born a year after Tubby died so I envy anyone who got to hear him live. All I have to go on are the recordings and, as we all know, a record can only tell you so much.

BSH: The film preceding the concert, were you involved with that too?

Yes, I was interviewed for the film and helped act as a consultant to the film's production team, Mark Baxter and Lee Cogswell.

BSH: One of the links between Tubbs and yourself is the drummer in your quartet – Spike Wells.  Spike was a member of the Tubby Hayes Quartet for a considerable time. Did this influence you when you were looking for a drummer?

Of course. When somebody of that stature likes playing with you, you don't say no! One thing that is particularly key here: although we play some of the music Spike played with Tubby's band, we also play things he didn't play, including material from earlier line-ups such as The Jazz Couriers and the Tubby Hayes Quintet. Spike isn't simply there to do a “tribute” act or an impression of his younger self – he's there to bring what he does to the music right now – which he does beautifully. He's one of the great jazz drummers, one of the most creative people I've ever met, and a musician from whom I've learned so much.

BSH: The title of your book - The Long Shadow of the Little Giant. Can you elaborate further?

Tubby was widely known as The Little Giant, a nickname acknowledging the fact that his short frame housed a gigantic musical talent. The title of the book came from me thinking how this Little Giant who died over forty years ago continues to cast such an imposing shadow over British jazz. The length of the shadow implies that the sun is setting on that era, making this the ideal time to celebrate Tubby's genius.

BSH: Thank you – I’m looking forward to the concert.
Lance.

The Simon Spillett Quartet Play the Music of Tubby Hayes as part of the Gateshead International Jazz Festival on Sunday, April 17. The evening begins with a screening of the new film Tubby Hayes – A Man in a Hurry. The concert will be followed by a short Q&A session with Simon.

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