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Bebop Spoken There

Oscar Peterson: "I find most pianists use too many notes in a chord. They double up an awful lot" - (Crescendo May 1963).

Benny Green (British): "...there was a whole race of men who used to stand in front of their bands, waving their arms, pretending to conduct ... Many of the bandleaders we had worked for had been either crooks or imposters ... " - (Crescendo March 1963).

Today Friday September 21

Afternoon

Rendezvous Jazz - Monkseaton Arms, Front Street, Monkseaton NE25 8DP. Tel: 0191 251 3928. 1:00pm. Free.

Zoë Gilby Trio - Bishop Auckland Town Hall, Market Place, Bishop Auckland DL14 7NP. Tel: 03000 269 524. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Ladies of Midnight Blue - Seven Stories, National Centre for Children's Books, Lime Street, Newcastle NE1 2PQ. Tel: 03000 3301095. 11:00am. £5.00.

Paul Edis - The Lit & Phil, Westgate Road, Newcastle NE1 1SE. Tel: 0191 232 0192. 1:00pm. £5.00. Edis, solo piano.

Evening

Ronnie Scott's All Stars - Middlesbrough Theatre, The Avenue, Linthorpe, Middlesbrough TS5 6SA. Tel: 01642 815181. 8:00pm. £22.50.

Groove-a-matics - Billy Bootleggers, Nelson St, Newcastle NE1 5AN. 9:00pm. Free.

George Shovlin & the Radars + Broken Levee - The Peacock, High St West, Sunderland SR1 3ES. Tel: 0191 511 1451. 7:00pm. £10.00. (+ £1.00. b/f). New blues venue.

To the best of our knowledge, details of the above events are correct but may be subject to alteration.

Friday, July 13, 2018

Durham Brass Festival - Remembering Ivy Benson.

(Press release)
Opening the Festivals’ women and brass celebration we pay tribute to the legendary bandleader Ivy Benson. Her all-female band overcame scepticism and prejudice to become one of the most popular and famous dance bands during the war years and beyond. Original Ivy Benson band member Chrissy Lee brings her dynamic all-female big band featuring many of the UK’s leading female jazz stars to salute Ivy’s pioneering spirit. Our celebration will also include internet sensation and Swedish Jazz trumpet star Gunhild Carling (pictured) whose high energy performances and remarkable multi-instrument videos have been viewed millions of times on YouTube.
(BSH preview) 
Long before the current 'Women Make Music' concerts were being promoted there was Ivy Benson and her All-Girls Orchestra. The band's signature tune was Lady be Good which sometimes wasn't always true - particularly when the GIs arrived in the UK. Ivy recalled, in Sheila Tracy's Book Talking Swing how her pianist said, "Oh there's Skip, may I go and talk to him?' Off the girl went and never returned leaving her band uniform in the dressing room.
My wife recalls hearing the band at the Isle of Man's Villa Marina where they alternated sets with an American Air Force Band. When not playing, the bands intermingled and, the following day they appeared on stage with love bites on their necks - I'm not sure whether she meant Ivy's girls or the Yanks!
I'm sure Chrissy Lee, who I think was Ivy's last drummer, will have lots more stories to tell at tonight's show at the Gala Theatre, Durham. 7:30pm.
Lance.
What's on.
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Bebop Spoken Here -- Here, being the north-east of England -- centred in the blues heartland of Newcastle and reaching down to the Tees Delta and looking upwards to the Land of the Kilt.
Not a very original title, I know; not even an accurate one as my taste, whilst centred around the music of Bird and Diz, extends in many directions and I listen to everything from King Oliver to Chick Corea and beyond. Not forgetting the Great American Songbook the contents of which has provided the inspiration for much great jazz and quality popular singing for round about a century.
The idea of this blog is for you to share your thoughts and pass on your comments on discs, gigs, jazz - music in general. If you've been to a gig/concert or heard a CD that knocked you sideways please share your views with us. Tell us about your favourites, your memories, your dislikes.
Lance (Who wishes it to be known that he is not responsible for postings other than his own and that he's not always responsible for them.)
Contact: lanceliddle@gmail.com I look forward to hearing from you.

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Whilst we appreciate the many emails, texts, messages and other communications we receive requesting album/gig reviews on BSH, regrettably, we are unable to reply to all of them other than those we are able to answer with a positive response.
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Lance