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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.

Saturday, November 25, 2017

In Other Words @ Tynemouth Station Christmas Market - November 25

Alex Thompson (alto saxophone), Nathan Lawson (guitar) & Dylan Thompson (drums)
(Review by Russell)
Tynemouth Station Christmas Market. Yes, November isn’t out, yet the Santa hats were out in numbers. The weekend market on either side of the Metro line is as popular as ever and today there was an added incentive to catch a train from Newcastle to the coast – In Other Words, in Santa and bobble hats themselves, were entertaining late morning visitors to a bustling market.
In Other Words (think Fly Me to the Moon) are Alex Thompson, alto, Nathan Lawson, guitar and Dylan Thompson, drums. The chances are you’ve heard them without knowing their names. On Sage Gateshead’s concourse these young men have entertained the crowds in numerous band permutations – Jazz Attack, JB’s Cats (that’s James Birkett’s young charges), Jambone (the big band based at Sage Gateshead) and the Early Bird Band to name but four.   

Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow! (please no, Christmas Eve will be soon enough!). Alex and Nathan donned Santa hats, Dylan a snazzy bobble hat. Beyond the Sea (not too far as the crow flies), Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas – the trio knew what to play, Christmas songs even though November isn’t out. In Other Words can’t help playing some jazz, it’s what they do, given the chance. Herbie Hancock’sWatermelon Man is a favourite, similarly Georgia. Alex played as well as ever, be it ballad tempo (Georgia) or a full steam ahead Caravan. Brother Dylan has the Juan Tizol/Duke Ellington drum part down to a tee. Metro passengers to and from trains stopped by to listen. One couple said: The alto player and drummer are really good, and the left-handed guitarist can play. The couple have ears.

The guitarist, the one who can play, is Nathan Lawson. The Gretsch-playing young man featured on Christmas Time is Here. Lots of Joe Pass-like stuff going on here. Marvellous. Remember it’s Christmas time…almost. Rudolph the Red Reindeer (all together now…), the trio’s signature tune, Fly me to the Moon and a reprise of Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow! The lads can play, that’s for sure. They played for a fee, rightly, and they made more than a couple of bob with not one but two strategically placed collection buckets. A pleasant, if cold, hour and a quarter, be sure to check out In Other Words   

Russell

6 comments :

Unknown said...

Nice to find out who these young players were. I passed through the station soon after they started playing, and only had to stop briefly to hear how good they were, individually and as a 'band'. No doubt we'll see them popping up again - maybe at a local jam session ?? Nice one, despite it still being November ! :)

Russell said...

Ken, these young lads are veterans of the Jazz Cafe's jam session. There is the possibility that they could turn up at the last session of the year on Tuesday 19 December. It would be good to see you there.

Unknown said...

Ah ! Tnx Russell, good to hear !

Andrea said...

Great review Russell thank you!
Yes they do get around a bit these three although none of them can claim to have been members of Jazz Attack. Their other band is 'Paraffernalia', Gateshead Music Service's youth Big Band - Dylan past, Alex and Nathan still current members :)
Andrea

Russell said...

You're right Andrea, Paraffernalia is another of the bands! Will the band be competing at next year's Great North Big Band Jazz Festival, I wonder?

It's hard to believe that Jazz Attack wasn't/isn't one of their bands!

Andrea said...

Hopefully Paraffernalia will be there Russell.
Although we really could do with recruiting some new members as numbers in the band have really dwindled this year due to so many going off to university!

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