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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

Grew Quartet + Grew Watts Duo + Grew Quintet @ Lit & Phil - March 17.

(Review/photos courtesy of Ken Drew.)
This highly anticipated double bill was quickly re-arranged into a 3-set Jazz North East treat at the Lit & Phil.
First set – the quartet – all in together from the outset.  Stephen on the piano with very extensive and dynamic use of the keyboard, along with the left hand occasionally modulating the mid-strings as the right hand continued its workout along the keyboard.   Virtually all played throughout – no ‘solo’ spots as such creating a continuously complex and energetic sound, enthralling the audience. The clarinet at times competing with the piano – each urging the other on, with bass and drums constantly underpinning the mix.  Then a quiet passage – a bass solo – plucking both above and below the left-hand finger positions. Very enthusiastic playing!   Overall, very energetic interplay, and just like the local Wylam beer, very accessible and very tasty!!   A pity it was limited to just half an hour!!  What a superb opening set.
Duo set.   Trevor blasting in from the start with nice harmonics echoing from the openly-sustained piano.   Stephen on the piano producing such pyrotechnics from one pair of hands!!  Both hands a frenzy up and down the keys, with plucked individual strings along the way, yet in total unison with Trevor throughout.  I think Trevor was ‘leading’ but Stephen was surely only microseconds behind.  Again, such dynamics were demonstrated both across the keys and inside the grand too, with many fleeting  excursions inside to pluck individual strings with the left hand – each done mid-flight as there was much work to be done on the keys.  Constantly responding to the challenge from Trevor.  What a Masterclass!!  Two pieces expertly delivered, and each ‘closed’ neatly and succinctly by mutual aural agreement.
Third set, the Quintet.  Straight in from the off again, and all playing constantly, for the most part, each adding their own expressions yet following the mood and direction of the piece as it developed.  The ‘wind’ (Trevor and Matt) occasionally converging perfectly on glissandos.  Both were giving a good blowout, and were so well matched.  Stephen’s right hand picking harp-like at the upper strings of the grand, bass and drums energetically taking their own solo spots.   All players were in unison from start to finish, and concluded with a clean, nicely developed ending.
The audience, which was of a decent size, nicely filled the Lit & Phil’s performance room, aiding the acoustics which were very clear and were amply rewarded with a superb three sets by a quartet, a duo and a quintet, each with musicians of breath-taking ability exhibiting some high-velocity workouts.  We were later told that these 5 players had never played together before. Wow!! What an introduction!!  Following the most enthusiastic applause, a concluding remark noted it was ‘an example of Empathetic improvisation at its very finest‘.  Let’s hope we see a follow-up in the not too distant future.  
Ken.
Grew Quartet: Stephen Grew (piano); Seth Bennett (bass); Phil Marks (drums); Matt Robinson (clarinets).
Stephen Grew - Trevor Watts Duo: Stephen Grew (piano); Trevor Watts (alto & soprano sax)
Grew Quintet: Stephen Grew (piano); Seth Bennett (bass); Phil Marks (drums); Matt Robinson (clarinets); Trevor Watts (alto & soprano).

3 comments :

Paul Bream said...

Thanks Ken - great review of a great gig. I'm generally very sceptical about 'Gig of the Year' accolades (there are so many to choose from), but this will undoubtedly take some beating. And the players all commented on what a great, receptive audience it was . . . but where were the local musicians? I spotted one saxophonist, one pianist and two drummers in attendance. It's not about learning, its about enjoying - although, of course, if one or two ideas rub off, well, isn't that the way that jazz has always developed?

Lance said...

I mentioned this awhile back, either on here or on facebook.
One person replied, "when I'm fortunate enough to get a night off the last thing I want to do is go to a gig!"
Seems as though it's a national thing, a friend of mine in London remarked on a similar scenario down there. Someone else said that maybe a musician who hasn't got a gig doesn't want to be seen by someone who has! I've also noted that players who do go to gigs are often the worst offenders when it comes chatting away during the music!
Possibly because so many have graduated from Jazz Education courses they feel superior to the guy who paid his dues in clubs/pubs at night after an 8 hour day in an office/shop/factory?
At one time gigs used to offer concessions to MU members.

EmmaFiskJazzVio said...

I think I commented when this came up last time. Speaking personally, as anyone else who works and has children when I'm not at work I have dishes to wash, children to feed, shopping to do, tunes to practice...I do occasionally get to a gig but life is busy!
Certainly hope I'm not guilty of any of the crimes you mention Lance!

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