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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.

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.

Sunday, November 27, 2016

Josh Kemp Quartet @ The Globe Jazz Bar - November 26

Josh Kemp (tenor); Martin Shaw (trumpet); Matt Ratcliffe (Nord C20); Dave Walsh (drums).
(Review by Lance).
This wasn't quite the anticipated line-up. We knew in advance that Martin Shaw was stepping in for Steve Fishwick, what we didn't know was that neither Tim Giles nor Ross Stanley were with us either. Those who'd been impressed by Stanley's recent appearances in the area with Nigel Price must have been particularly disappointed. However, in fairness to Ratcliffe he proved to be a more than able dep and, by the end of the evening, it was a case of "Ross who?" Likewise with Dave Walsh.

Understandably, some of the numbers weren't as tight as they could have been, jazz has always maintained a sense of looseness and, indeed, frequently none the worse for that. Such was the case here and the well-attended gig was given the stamp of approval by the crowd after the opening number.
As it said on the tin, this was classic Blue Note with a contemporary feel. Kemp is a no-nonsense sax man what we used to call a tough tenor a sort of updated version of Ike Quebec, Arnett Cobb or Lockjaw Davis. Lots of fire in his belly but also a degree of tenderness when playing a ballad. Having heard Shaw several times over the years we had no worries. He delivers the goods without fail.
Walsh, a teacher at Leeds College of Music, laid down the funk whilst Ratcliffe, from Derby, although not as flamboyant a player as Ross Stanley, took care of the business in his own way.
As the night progressed the music gelled more and more. The mix of Kemp originals and the occasional standard made for a varied programme. Stirred Not Shaken was a cocktail comprising Sweet Georgia Brown, Straight no Chaser and a dash of original Kemp. It worked a treat. My One and Only Love saw both horns in a romantic mode whilst the closer, Home Cooking began with Shaw and Kemp exchanging 8's and finished with collective improvisation between the pair.
Other originals included a piece dedicated to The Angel of the North, a funky Turn on the Dark and Effervescence. This latter piece, Kemp pointed out, was good value for money as you got 20% extra each bar - it was in 5/4 time! Perhaps this was a hangover from Black Friday.
Much of the music was from Kemp's current CD -  Rare Groove.
Well done Jazz Coop for bringing such a band to the Globe even though it wasn't quite the expected personnel.
Lance.

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