Total Pageviews

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.

Thursday, March 22, 2018

CD Review: Zhenya Strigalev – Blues for Maggie

Zhenya Strigalev (alto sax, soprano sax, alto box, electronics); Federico Dannemann (guitar); Linley Marthe (bass guitar, keyboards) & Eric Harland (drums)
(Review by Russell)
Blues for Maggie is Zhenya Strigalev’s fourth album for Michael Janisch’s Whirlwind Recordings label and it is a winner. The use of electronics could be an issue for some listeners but stay with this album if for no other reason than to be blown away by the virtuosity of all four musicians on Take Off Socks, all twenty minutes and twenty-five seconds of it. This ‘tour de force’ is the fourth track of seven and it opens with guitarist Federico Dannemann playing his socks off over a killer bass and drum groove. You could be forgiven for thinking that that was the highlight, but no, Zhenya Strigalev weighs in on soprano blowing like there’s no tomorrow all the while riding on that bass and drum groove set up and maintained by the brilliant pairing of Linley Marthe and Eric Harland. And that’s it, or so you think until Eric Harland gives a percussion masterclass the like of which has rarely been captured on shellac, vinyl, tape or CD. Blues for Maggie was recorded in concert and in the studio; fortunately, Harland’s epic contribution was in front of an audience at Porgy and Bess in Vienna and there is a palpable sense that something special was happening on the night.  
Happy Professors swings with Dannemann’s deft, fizzing lines referencing an earlier era and this sits perfectly within the album’s overall knowing retro sound – Dannemann pre jazz-rock, Marthe right-in-the-jazz-rock pocket once the province of Jaco Pastorius. Interestingly Linley Marthe had the honour of playing in a late-career line-up of Joe Zawinul’s band. Strigalev plays with energy, enjoyment in making music, and if you can forgive the distraction of his effects (he has invented what he calls his ‘alto box’), Blues for Maggie is certainly one for those who appreciate virtuosi at work.

And who, exactly, is Maggie? Step forward one Maggie Black, inveterate supporter of jazz. She and Strigalev met at a Ronnie Scott's jam session, they hit it off, Black subsequently becoming London's Pannonica to Russian-born Strigalev and her patronage continues to be a key element nurturing touring and recording projects. Legend has it Black 'likes to stay at shows until 3.00am.' Don't we all?! 

Blues for Maggie by Zhenya Strigalev is available now on Whirlwind Recordings (WR4720).  
The album launch is set for March 28th at the Vortex in London. It should be noted that there will be a different line-up on the night to that heard on the CD. 
Russell

No comments :

Blog Archive