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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.

Friday, September 29, 2017

All Aboard the Durham Music Service Jazz Express!

(Review by Russell)
On 27 September 1825 the world’s first steam locomotive public passenger service opened on the Stockton and Darlington railway. Exactly one hundred and ninety two years later on 27 September 2017 the Durham Music Service Jazz Express celebrated the historic occasion with a jazz concert at Locomotion, National Railway Museum, Shildon.  
Civic dignitaries wearing chains of office took their front row seats to enjoy an evening of big band jazz. Two fantastic bands – Durham Alumni Big Band and Durham County Youth Big Band – were joined by Graeme Robinson’s Locomotive Rhythm project, each band playing one set to a Shildon big band jazz and steam train buff audience. 
Durham Alumni Big Band is comprised of the County Youth Big Band’s former members – the ‘alumni’. The Alumni is an award winning band and there isn’t a weak link in the line-up. Directed by Shaune Eland, the band commissioned composer and trumpeter Matt Roberts, himself a former member of the orchestra, to write a suite of music which would  be Durham Music Service’s contribution to Shildon’s anniversary year. A key element of the  band’s success is the sheer commitment shown by all of the musicians. Some travel many miles to  rehearsal sessions and concert performances, Roberts himself making the journey from London.

The band opened with Invitation featuring Roberts’ train whistle – simple but effective! Ted Heath’s arrangement of Honeysuckle Rose got the dignitaries’ feet tapping as did Bernie’s Tune featuring a five strong trumpet section – the regular hot shot four plus Matt Roberts – and a fiery alto solo from Daniel Johnson. Another number from the Ted Heath pad – Kenny Graham’s King’s Cross Climax – established a tenuous link with the Stockton and Darlington railway celebrations. More choo choo doings in the guise of an updated Chattanooga Choo Choo preceded Robert’s commissioned piece Homeward. The composer spoke of the east coast main line train journey that he often takes – this, in part, the inspiration for the composition, itself one section of The Train suite. Alex Baker on tenor and Jonny Dunn playing flugelhorn excelled, as they so often do. Shaune Eland thanked everyone for their time and commitment, and, by way of an encore, it was all aboard for Tuxedo Junction.

Earlier, Durham County Youth Big Band played a short set. The high standard of musicianship was  to be expected, and, as is the way, several members of the band are moving on. Indeed, some are already studying at university, and, once again, showed their commitment in returning home to play this gig. The band will lose up to six members from across the sections. Vacant chairs will be filled, the next generation is upon us. Earth, Wind and Fire’s Into the Storm whipped up the proverbial as Omar Shade blew gutsy baritone and Sammy Nestico’s Odyssey heard good section work from the trombones. Gut Bucket Blues recalled the late Abram Wilson’s workshop session with the band – trumpeter Matthew Robinson’s rasping solo impressed as did Beth Roberts’ alto saxophone solo.
Roberts featured again on On the Sunny Side of the Street and The Look of Love. The band’s final number was, no less, a world premiere! With Matt Roberts, flugelhorn at the ready, joining the band to play his composition Steamfunk, this was great stuff.

Locomotive Rhythm is Graeme Robinson’s unique project taking as its inspiration the history, toil,  sweat, and nuts and bolts of the region’s railways. A percussion set up incorporating iron and steel parts forged and foraged from the area’s rich industrial past bolted on to present day technologies made for an intriguing listen. Robinson created all manner of clanking rail yard sounds. Joining him on this gig were Kevin Eland, trumpet, Alex Baker, tenor, Gavin Bell, bass, and Chris Rutherford on guitar. The titles of the pieces sought to place the music in the community; familiar places – Myers Flat Battery, Grey Horse (not one, but two local pubs), Hometown and Diesel Multiple Unit. Yes, an ‘industrial’ jazz performance with atmospheric tenor saxophone from Alex Baker and ghostly Miles’ muted horn from an on form Kevin Eland. Locomotive Rhythm is an unusual project. It’s a fair bet that Graeme Robinson is an enthusiast when it comes to the region’s railway heritage.    
   
Durham Alumni Big Band: Shaune Eland MD, Matt Roberts, Ian Robinson, Tom Hill, Jonny Dunn, Matthew Robinson trumpets; David Hamilton, Andrew Kirtley, Terry O’Hern, Alastair Wood trombones; Danielle Drew, Alex Baker, Daniel Johnson, Kirsty Dunn, Omar Shade saxophones; Ben Connor piano, Mick Shoulder bass; Stephen Fletcher drums   

Shildon’s part in the development of the railways cannot be underestimated and Locomotion plays an important role as an invaluable free admission educational resource preserving historic engines and rolling stock for future generations. Visit: www.nrm.org.uk     
Russell

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