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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.

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'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

Ushaw Ensemble – St. Cuthbert's Suite, Ushaw College, Durham - March 18

Paul Edis (MD/piano); Graham Hardy (trumpet/flugel); Graeme Wilson (tenor sax/bass clarinet/flute); Emma Fisk (violin); Alice Burn (Northumbrian pipes); Rob Walker (drums/tympani); Paul Susans (double bass).
(Review/photos by Hugh C).
A decent crowd assembled in the newly refurbished Francis Thompson Room, preparatory to the world premiere of Paul Edis’ St Cuthbert's Suite – a suite specially commissioned by Ushaw College.
After a brief introduction, Durham's Dr Jazz himself, Paul Edis, announced that the Suite was to be played in the second set.  As befitted a serious composition we were provided with detailed programme notes.  Before that though, we were to be treated to some lighter material, each with a connection (sometimes tenuous!) to religion or the religious life.  There followed approximately 50 minutes of music, each of the front line musicians taking a solo role in one of the items.  Included were Solitude, Meditation, Confirmation, [Our] Lady be Good and St. Thomas. 

Alice Burn played a solo pipes rendition of Cheviot's Lament (written to commemorate the devastation of the 2001 Foot and Mouth outbreak).
After interval refreshment and a chance to have a quick look at some of the other splendours of Ushaw Hall, an expectant audience reassembled to prepare for the world premiere.  Another first may have taken place that evening as well – Paul Edis did wonder aloud if this was the first incorporation of Northumbrian pipes in a jazz setting.
St. Cuthbert's suite consists of eleven individual components which ran, more or less, back to back for around 45 minutes.  Each component related to a particular phase in St Cuthbert's life and events after his death:
St Cuthbert's Theme
A Shepherd From Melrose
A Vision
The Indefatigable Evangelist
Solitude
Many Miracles
The Death of Cuthbert
The Vikings
Seven Years Wandering
The Wonder Worker of Britain
Dunholme
The programme notes were very helpful and an integral part of the performance in my view -  enabling one to follow the progression of the suite.  The notes provided both a brief historical background and an outline to the musical progression.  The musical instruments to the fore in a particular section were highlighted and an outline provided of the compositional thinking behind what was being offered.  In the notes, Edis cites influences from composers as wide ranging as Ellington, Debussy, Ravel and Messiaen.
The musical styles were wide ranging, but definitely, in my view, within the confines of jazz in my view.  Each of the soloists excelled and the ensemble evenly balanced in this, their first performance.  The depiction of the Vikings by freely improvised playing was, I thought, particularly effective.  The audience were appreciative, with loud applause at the end of the performance.  Paul did suggest we could clap during the Suite if we wished, but no-one did – I felt this was entirely appropriate, given the nature of the piece. However, there were one or two recalcitrants toward the back of the room who insisted on maintaining a conversation during the music.
The evening was rounded off by a rousing rendition of Ellington's Come Sunday.
All in all, an excellent evening - congratulations to Paul Edis and the Ushaw Ensemble. 
The Jazz at Ushaw season continues through the year:  The James Birkett and Bradley Johnston Duo (guitars) play at 7.30pm on Friday, April 29 and the Susan Ferris Quintet (featuring several of the musicians from the Ushaw Ensemble) are on Friday, May 27 at 7.45pm, with an early bird session at 7.15pm. Full details here:  http://www.ushaw.org/events.html
Also don't forget the Durham Jazz Festival over the three days of the August Bank Holiday weekend.  I am assured by the festival organiser that full details will be available soon, including a feature in forthcoming edition of Jazzwise magazine.
Hugh.

1 comment :

Kathleen M said...

St Cuthbert’s Suite – So good we heard it twice. Having heard and enjoyed the first performance so much we decided there was no better way of spending Saturday afternoon than by hearing it again. There is a pamphlet to accompany this composition with the various aspects of St. Cuthbert’s Life wonderfully interpreted by Paul Edis and brought to life by a fantastic group of musicians.
Once again I was so involved with listening that I cannot do justice to the various moods evoked by this awe inspiring work. I hope and believe there may be a CD in the near future. Thanks to all who took part with a special thank you to Paul Edis.

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