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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.

Sunday, August 26, 2018

Giles Strong/Roly Veitch Jazz Guitar Duo & Tulip/MacKellar Quartet @ Ushaw, Durham - August 25

Roly Veitch & Giles Strong (guitars)
(Review by Lance).
A delightful vignette, tasteful and perfectly executed by two masters of their craft. George Barnes, Bucky Pizzarelli, Howard Alden, George Van Eps are some of the names that spring to mind when searching for comparisions. Both Roly and Giles tick plenty of the above boxes and although Pat Metheny isn't in there, nor is Eddie Lang. Instead, it's straight down the middle swing each with their own individual approach, an approach not too far apart. Giles is possibly the more forceful player, Roly the more laid back but, having said that, the roles change from piece to piece making for a very evenly balanced set.
Apart from the heads and the solos, there were moments of fuguelike interplay as their lines crossed, twisted, turned and intertwined. The subtlety left the listeners breathless and nobody dared to drop a pin in case it led to the building being evacuated.
The applause at the end, a solid indication of the warm appreciation built up between the players, the audience and the rich musical heritage brought to life.
I'll Remember April; You'd Be So Nice to Come Home to; Alone Together; Flamingo; Body & Soul; Love For Sale; I Hear a Rhapsody; a take on an intro to Billie's Bounce; A complex and fascinating All the Things You Are (who said that tune was worn out? Not in the hands of these two); I Love You,
----- 
Francis Tulip (guitar); Joel Brown (piano/Yamaha Emulator/church organ); Andy Champion (bass); Matt MacKellar (drums).
Earlier, we had more guitar wizardry from the Tulip/MacKellar Quartet. Guitar wizardry in a more contemporary vein. I sat alongside Roly who was mega impressed and later, in their own set, Roly's co-pilot Giles also praised this band. And justifiably so. With super-sub Andy Champion on double bass, the quartet maintained the high standard that myself and other BSH pundits have raved about.
The programme was very much as before and didn't suffer from that. Practice makes perfect they say and this was perfect although by the next gig it may be even more perfect. Certainly, when the CD is released (soon) I'm sure the end product will be the most perfect (grammarians start commenting now!)
Tulip and MacKellar are rightfully recognised as superlative players, as is Joel Brown who, apart from playing piano and producing B3 sounds on his pocket keyboard was spotted, prior to the gig, playing pipe organ in the majestic surrounds of Ushaw's magnificent St. Cuthbert's Chapel. Sounded like a Bach Toccata and Fugue but probably wasn't. Joel is heading off to Africa shortly so his final appearance may well be in the less salubrious surrounds of the Jazz Café jam session on 9/11.
We wish him well.
Back to the Francis Thompson Room which, today, could have been renamed the Francis Tulip Room or come to that, any of the participating musicians. In years to come maybe there will be a blue plaque or a commemorative portrait adorning the walls.
Wouldn't be undeserved.
Lance.
More photos.

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