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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.
Mon 01: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 3:00pm. 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.

Friday, May 12, 2017

BABMUS @ The Jazz Café - May 11

(Review by Russell)
A bumper BABMUS session. Sage Gateshead students’ regular gig at the Jazz Café on Pink Lane took on an extra dimension with the presence of tutors in assessment mode. It’s that time of year… students getting the beers in, partying…sorry, studying late into the night, burning the midnight oil,   future careers at the forefront of their minds. The upstairs room comfortably full, Paul Edis handed an unsuspecting Thomas Dixon MC duties for the evening. Saxophonist Dixon thanked Dr Edis for putting him on the spot…a sink or swim moment!
BA and BMus students gathered in the upstairs room on Pink Lane, the place buzzing with a sense of anticipation. The evening would comprise a series of quick fire small group performances (tutors making notes on laptops…A+, D-, or perhaps they were shopping lists…a pound of carrots, cereal,  etc), culminating in a BABMUS big band finale. Dixon introduced his fellow students as they took to the stage. On this occasion your BSH reviewer determined name checks were unnecessary (with a quartet the exception, of which, more later), the examinees were in the spotlight, pressure enough! Some performers didn’t have a collective name.  A second’s thought, and a new name devised for the occasion would suffice. Jazz Hands, Time Wasters, Blue Strap and Radgie Little Gangsters, on the spot monikers! Tunes ranging from I Got Rhythm and Feeling Good to All Blues and Blue Boss. The latter isn’t a typo, Blue Bossa became Blue Boss. From the Gershwins and Kanye West to the familiar Miles and equally familiar Bruno Mars (for those of the Millennial generation), a composers’ who’s who?
The examiners listened to vocalists, brass and reeds, pianists, guitarists, bass players, drummers, all manner of instrumentalists. Supported by a cheering on-side audience, all acquitted themselves well. Some of the examinees have sat in at the Jazz Café’s high octane jam session (first and third Tuesdays) and lived to tell the tale. More than that, some of those sitters-in have come on in leaps and bounds. All students, any instrument, are encouraged to turn up (8:00pm) and give it a go.
Bearpark is a Sage Gateshead student quartet developing apace. Pianist (and organist) Bearpark, that’s Tom Bearpark, together with Thomas Dixon (that’s MC Tom Dixon) reeds, bassist Stephen Wall and drummer Adam Watson are leading the way at the regular BABMUS session at the Jazz Café. Now taking on Bill Evans, Wayne Shorter and the challenge of modal jazz, this quartet is not too far away from taking to the road, gigging as a working unit. If they’ve got anything like a full pad (ie two forty five minutes’ worth of material) these guys should be knocking on the Facebook doors of local promoters (Darlington, Durham, Hexham and Newcastle for starters).

To conclude an enjoyable evening the BABMUS Big Band assembled on stage for a good old blow out. Dr Edis, done with laptop duties, grabbed his alto sax to take his place in the line-up. Edis’ old Splinter Group chart For Bill got an airing in between some swinging, hard blowing ensemble work. Check out the next BABMUS session, but before then, make a point of getting along to the Caff on Tuesday (May 16) for the next installment of the always interesting jam session. Downbeat at eight, seats at a premium, it’s the greatest free show in town.
Russell.         

4 comments :

Emma Fisk (on F/b) said...

Go Lucy Playle!

Lucy Playle (on f/b) said...

Ooh thanks Emma I didn't even know XD yayayaya thank you. ����������������������

Emma Fisk (on F/b) said...

Hope it went well and you enjoyed it!�� x

Lucy Playle (on f/b) said...

��������Yes it went well thank you ����������

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