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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.

Monday, January 21, 2019

Sounds from The Underground in The Victoria Tunnel – January 19

Zoë Gilby(vocals) & Andy Champion (double bass)
(Review by Steve H/photos courtesy of Ken Drew)

There are not many gigs that one goes to where you have to don a hard hat on entering the auditorium. It may be understandable for heavy metal or hard rock but for an improvised double bass and vocal performance what could possibly be going on? The answer was completely logical as the duo in question were performing in Newcastle’s Victoria Tunnel.

The tunnel, built in the 19th Century, runs from the Town Moor to the Quayside which enabled coal from the Leazes Main Colliery in Spital Tongues to be delivered to ships waiting on the banks of the Tyne.
Saturday night’s performance took place in the section of the tunnel just inside the entrance behind the Hotel Du Vin.  A truly unique setting for the hard-hatted audience of around 30, sat in pairs in the narrow tunnel to the right of the entrance slope.  Zoë and Andy were in the section of the tunnel to the left of the slope thus enabling the audience to observe the performers with a spectacular view of the tunnel receding into the distance behind them. Just to emphasise how tight things were, the top of Andy’s double bass was within an inch of touching the ceiling of the tunnel. 

After receiving the health and safety instructions from the tunnel volunteers we awaited the first number. Would it be Going Underground by The Jam or maybe something by John Coaltrain?  In fact, a perfect choice of a Tom Waits song Way Down in the Hole got things off to a flying start. Covers by various modern artists including Kate Bush (Kashka from Baghdad), Paul Simon (Graceland) and, obviously, Nick Cave (Red Right Hand) were delivered with considerable aplomb in Zoë and Andy’s inimitable style. There was also a version of Nice Work if You Can Get it in which Zoë very cleverly scatted a brief a history of the tunnel.

The duo finished with an original - The Tunnel - which was inspired by a jam session that they had participated in which had taken place in a disused railway tunnel in Transylvania.  
    
I was actually quite surprised how good the acoustics were in this rather novel subterranean location. You were really able to soak in Zoë’s great vocals and Andy’s virtuoso bass playing in what must have been an extremely challenging location (cold, dark, cramped). Those who took the chance of experiencing a gig in this most unlikely of environments were certainly rewarded with this marvellously atmospheric, unique and entertaining performance.
Steve H.

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