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Bebop Spoken There

Simon Spillett: “ Bebop and hard bop came naturally to him [Tubby Hayes]". Morning Star, March 28, 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

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.
Fri 29: True Colours @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 9:00pm. Blues, jazz & swing.

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.

Thu 04: FILM: Soul @ Forum Cinema, Hexham. 2:00pm. Jazz-themed film animation.
Thu 04: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 04: Funky Drummer @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 04: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 04: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Saturday, April 07, 2018

James Birkett & Bradley Johnston @ The Lit & Phil - April 6

James Birkett (guitar) & Bradley Johnston (guitar)
(Review by Russell) 
Brilliant, simply brilliant. As an hors-d'oeuvre to this weekend’s Gateshead International Jazz Festival this duo performance by master guitarists James Birkett and Bradley Johnston was of exceptional quality. We in the northeast of England could quite easily become blasé about the number of first-rate guitarists on our doorstep. Two of the very best entertained a full house at Newcastle’s Literary and Philosophical Society and there was the added dimension to today ’s hour-long programme being performed in its entirety on guitars especially made for them by a master luthier, Mr Jeongwoo Cho (www.jwc-guitars.com).

One can’t imagine master guitarists suffering from stage fright and to open this afternoon’s set Birkett and Johnston faced-down any such terrors by playing Stage Fright (comp. McDonough
& Kress). Benny Carter’s Only Trust Your Heart (sage advice?) then another Dick McDonough
- Carl Kress number followed by the delightfully titled Chicken a la Swing. All were exceptional.    

Michel Colombier’s Emmanuel is a recent addition to the Birkett-Johnston setlist and the Love Theme from the hugely successful film Cinema Paradiso offered further new material. Top rank jazz numbers occupied much of the rest of the programme – Waltz for Debby (comp. B Evans), perhaps the tune of the day Artillerie Lourde (comp. D. Reinhardt), Always and Forever (comp.
Pat Metheny) and Jimmy Giuffre’s much-loved Four Brothers. Birkett and Johnston conjure the most amazing solos and their rhythm guitar playing is to die for. Such is their level of ability the
duo will sometimes play a whole number without so much as a glance, trusting in one another, secure in the knowledge that they’ve been here before and can play anything and it’ll work.

If Artillerie Lourde took the honours as the performance of the day then the finale – Django’s Swing

42 – ran it a close second. Guitar playing to marvel at, James Birkett and Bradley Johnston are, come to think of it, second to none. 
Russell                       

1 comment :

Roly said...

As you say Russell, brilliant. The performance ranged from exquisite to dazzling.

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