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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.

Monday, September 19, 2016

Jeremy McMurray-Mark Toomey Quintet @ Blaydon Jazz Club. September 19

Jeremy McMurray (piano), Mark Toomey (alto saxophone), Paul Donnelly (guitar), Peter Ayton (bass) & Paul Smith (drums)
(Review by Russell/Photos courtesy of Roly Veitch)
Jeremy McMurray and Mark Toomey made a return visit to the Black Bull with former Djangology guitarist Paul Donnelly a welcome addition to the line-up. The Teessiders are seasoned performers - one of bassist Peter ‘Tubby’ Ayton’s claims to fame is a gig with Spike Milligan and Paul Smith (drums) boasts a you-name-them-I’ve-played-with-them  CV - and this Blaydon Jazz Club date was all about Bird.  

All about Bird? Well, Mark Toomey plays authoritative Charlie Parker-inspired alto, and there is no getting away from it…thankfully. A man of few on-stage words, Toomey took turns with pianist McMurray to announce the tunes. Kicking off with Au Privave, they hit the ground running, taking off into Birdland, a round of solos introducing the band to the select Blaydon audience. A broader offering unfolded with Latin-infused selections and a standard or two. Lover Man up-tempo, There Will Never Be Another You (Toomey unable to resist a Bah bah you/ewe quote), and the altoist firing on What’s New?

Guest Paul Donnelly upped the ante leading off on Four Brothers. A Djangologist turned bebopper, the harmonic language fully assimilated, this was great guitar playing. To close the first set Toomey dipped into his soul jazz bag, pulling out Work Song. Paul Donnelly shone once again, Wes Montgomery would have been impressed!

An out of town party arrived, baulked at the extortionate door charge, retiring garrulously to the adjoining bar to continue their conversation. Jazz fans? Not really, ‘out on the hoy’ is the expression. Toomey began the second set with Ornithology prompting the note: He knows his way around the alto! Similarly, Donnelly found his way around the fret board with consummate ease on Joy Spring and again on A Day in the Life/Black Orpheus. The man at the keys, Mr Jeremy McMurray, is familiar with the 88s and a sense of enjoyment is evident in his playing. On this Blaydon date he peppered solos with fleeting quotes. No time to stop and think: That was… just go with the flow. If one tune is heard at the Black Bull more than any other it could well be Stella by Starlight. The McMurray-Toomey set list just happened to include the tune and met with audience approval. One of the all time great numbers. The quintet closed the evening on Wee. Mark Toomey’s gigs on Tyneside are few and far between. Next time, get along to hear some first rate alto playing.

Next month sees the return of Vasilis Xenopoulos. The London-based Greek saxophonist is one of his generation’s finest exponents of swinging, mainstream tenor saxophone. His friendship with pianist Paul Edis brings Vasi ‘up north’ on an annual basis. Last year they played a memorable gig at the Black Bull. The place was understandably packed out. There is every prospect of October’s visit (Sunday 23) resulting in another full house at Blaydon Jazz Club. Xenopoulos and Edis will once again be working with Andy Champion (bass) and drummer Russ Morgan. Four top class musicians, this promises to be one of the gigs of the year. The first set starts at 8:00pm. Admission a mere £7.00., pay at the door. You haven’t been to a jazz gig in years but you regularly read this blog? Right, here’s the plan …switch off the television (and PC), all roads lead to Blaydon. No excuses!

Russell.          

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