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Bebop Spoken There

Béla Fleck: “ And that's the great thing about live performances, you take people on a journey. It doesn't have to be like something else they've heard. It's not supposed to be". DownBeat, April, 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

Thu 28: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 28: Gateshead Jazz Appreciation Society @ Gateshead Central Library, Gateshead. 2:30pm.
Thu 28: Richard Herdman Quartet @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 28: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Guests: Josh Bentham (alto sax); Alan Marshall (tenor sax); Neil Brodie (trumpet); Adrian Beadnell (bass); Graham Thompson (keys); Steve Hunter (drums).

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.

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.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Extreme Measures at the Side Café

To make a non-musical comparison, an Extreme Measures' arrangement is rather like tracing the path of the River Tyne. Five tributaries, starting out near the Scottish Borders or in the Cumbrian foothills, flowing gently eastwards. Each taking its own meandering path until, one by one they meet up and become stronger with the alliance. Eventually, just before Hexham, they merge and the five streams become a river that grows in intensity as it deepens, becomes louder, in its relentless search for the freedom of the sea. Finally it reaches South Shields/Tynemouth and, between the wave lashed piers, makes contact with the raging torrent. The passengers - in this case the audience - hang on in there the adrenalin coursing through their veins until, just when it seems time to man the lifeboats, the tempestuous water subsides and they float, emotionally drained, into calmer seas. We breath again - for awhile. Not many gigs cause me to wax quite so eloquently but an Extreme Measures gig is no ordinary gig.
From Gary Turner's sheets of sound, to Mark Williams' wild thrashes, to Ben Gilbert's quest for modal supremacy, to David Carnegie's power drums to Stuart Davies' work below deck, the end result is an experience that stays with you; trust me.
Special mention must be made of Mark Williams who not only has had his hair cut but performed superbly as a last minute dep for Jamie McRedie who was being detained at HM Pleasure in the Guildhall School of Music.
Great gig.

5 comments :

Anonymous said...

Beautifully put Lance. You'll have to write that block buster novel.
Great analogy though and it's spot on.
Roly

Anonymous said...

The novel is written but the block is distinctly unbusted!

Anonymous said...

I'm sure it would sell. You just need a better manager to promote your wares. That's the secret these days. Suggest phone Simon Cowell.
Roly

Anonymous said...

Well “shiver me timbers” old mate it looks like I should have weighed anchor and set my sails on course for the Side. I ‘m all at sea and feel like I’ve been keel hauled for missing the gig.
'Admiral' stuff by all accounts.
Down the hatch and all that.
Adrian

Hil said...

Heck that sounds like some wonderful gig I missed.

Hil

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