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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, March 12, 2018

Bold Big Band @ Dun Cow, Jesmond - March 11

(Review by Lance)
Well named! This young band of, predominantly, students from Newcastle University are certainly bold. You could also add brash and belting but not balladic. They don't do subtle, putting the boot in is their chosen forté; not surprising given that the pad contains a lot of Buddy Rich and Gordon Goodwin numbers. The audience of future Prime Ministers, captains of industry and Harley St., surgeons wouldn't want it any other way and, as the evening drew to a close, the space in front of the band was awash with gyrating bodies and not all of them were students. It says much for drummer Harry Still that he didn't allow the shadow of Buddy Rich to phase him and his drive contributed much to the excitement generated by the band that led to the terpsichorean workout.
Leader Jimmy Jefford is undoubtedly a saxophonist whose star is in the ascendancy. Complete control of his instrument (tenor) and a well-organised leader. His solo on Watermelon Man had the mercury bubbling over.
Alexis Cairns blew impressive tenor on Dancing Man and Mercedes Phillips on lead alto also blew well on Big Swing Face and Spain. Her soprano solo on Sing, Sang, Sung really wailed. Most of the trumpet solos were by Elliott Todd to whom range seems no obstacle.
In one of the more melodic moments, Alex Utting had a nice bass trombone feature on Wave and Bertie Marks had a blast on the aforementioned Dancing Man.
The rhythm section were as sound - or maybe even sounder in today's climate - as a pound with Ben Richardson well featured on keys as was Luke Gaul on guitar. Gaul also took over on bass guitar when Osiyemi stepped up to the plate for his vocals. After a somewhat hesitant beginning, the singer's confidence grew and, as the night progressed, he was firing on all cylinders.
The performance area at the Dun Cow is compact but, like most jazz venues these days, gives the audience the feeling that they are part of it unlike sitting in Row X of a concert hall and reaching for your binoculars. Although I was on Coca Cola (driving) I couldn't resist torturing myself by looking at the choice of real ales available...ah maybe next time and I'm sure there will be a next time...
Lance.

Info re personnel and setlists courtesy of Jimmy Jefford and Alexis Cairns.
Mercedes Phillips, David Johnson, Jimmy Jefford, Alexis Cairns, Lucy Miller (saxes); Oli Presland, Danny Wilson, Elliott Todd, Ben Chinery (trumpets); David Gray, Simon Hirst, Bertie Marks, Alex Utting (trombones); Ben Richardson (keys); Luke Gaul (guitar/bass guitar); Ifede Osiyemi (bass guitar and vocals); Harry Still (drums).

Set 1:
Big Swing Face (Ben Richardson, keys; Mercedes Phillips, alto sax)
Wave (Alex Utting, trombone)
Nutville (Jimmy Jefford, tenor sax; Elliott Todd, trumpet; Harry Still, drums)
See the World (Luke Gaul, guitar)
Ain't Misbehavin' (Ifede Osiyemi, vocals)
The Lady is a Tramp (Ifede Osiyemi, vocals)

Set 2:
Spain (Elliott Todd, trumpet; Ben Richardson, keys; Mercedes Phillips, alto sax)
Dancing Men (Alexis Cairns, tenor sax; Bertie Marks, trombone)
The Way You Look Tonight (Ifede Osiyemi, vocals)
L.O.V.E. (Ifede Osiyemi)
Children of Sanchez (Elliott Todd, trumpet; Luke Gaul, guitar)
Count Bubba (Ben Richardson, keys)

Set 3:
Sing Sang Sung (Mercedes Phillips, soprano sax)
Pick up the Pieces (David Johnson, alto sax; Ben Richardson, keys; Jimmy Jefford, tenor sax)
Mack the Knife (Ifede Osiyemi, vocals)
Come Fly With Me (Ifede Osiyemi, vocals)
Watermelon Man (Jimmy Jefford, tenor sax)
The Jazz Police (Jimmy Jefford, tenor sax; Luke Gaul, guitar)

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