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Bebop Spoken There

Orrin Evans: “Now, getting a teaching spot is the new record deal”. (DownBeat, November, 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

17523 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 797 of them this year alone and, so far, 35 this month (Nov. 10).

From This Moment On ...

November

Sun 17: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 17: Liane Carroll: Jazz Vocal Weekend Workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 9:00am-5:00pm. £95.00. Day 2/2. SOLD OUT!
Sun 17: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Skerritt (solo) performing with backing tapes.
Sun 17: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 17: Liane Carroll @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Sun 17: Julian Lage @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. Lage, solo guitar.

Mon 18: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 18: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Wheatsheaf, Benton Sq., Whitley Road, Palmersville NE12 9SU. Tel: 0191 266 8137. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 19: Christine Tassan et Les Imposteures @ Bowes & Gilmonby Parish Hall, Co. Durham. 7:30pm. £14.00.; £7.00. child.
Tue 19: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Mark Robertson.
Tue 19: Jeremy McMurray & the Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Billingham Catholic Club. 7:30pm. £5.00. from 07757 062798 or at the door.

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: Christine Tassan et Les Imposteures @ Howick Village Hall, nr. Alnwick. 7:30pm. £12.00.; £6.00. child.
Wed 20: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 20: Hot Club of Heaton @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘third Wednesday in the month’ session.

Thu 21: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. ‘Autumn into Winter Titles (music & songs that go with the change of the seasons)’.
Thu 21: Down for the Count Swing Orchestra @ Newcastle Cathedral. 7:30pm. £25.00., £20.00., £14.00. ‘Swing Into Xmas with the Down for the Count Swing Orchestra’.
Thu 21: Pete Tanton & the Cuban Heels @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 21: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesborough. 8:30pm. Free. Guests: Neil Brodie (trumpet); Donna Hewitt (sax); Josh Bentham (sax); Garry Hadfield (keys); Ron Smith (bass); Mark Hawkins (drums).

Fri 22: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The White Swan, Ovingham. 12:30-3:30pm. £15.00. Line-up: Chris Perrin (clarinet, tenor sax); Phil Rutherford (sousaphone); David Gray (trombone, trumpet, vocals); Brian Bennett (banjo). To book a table tel: 01661 833188.
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: East Coast Swing Band @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:30pm.
Fri 22: Dilutey Juice @ Independent, Sunderland. 7:30pm. £10.00. + £1.00. bf.
Fri 22: Archipelago @ Poprecs, High St. West, Sunderland. 7:00pm. £10.00. Multi-bill, Archipelago on stage 8:00pm. A Boundaries Festival event.
Fri 22: Groovetrain @ Hoochie Coochie, Newcastle. £15.00. + bf. 8:45pm (7:30pm doors).

Sat 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Spanish City, Whitley Bay. 11:00-1:00pm. £6.00. at the door, £4.00. advance. Tel: 0191 691 7090. A Spanish City ‘Xmas Market’ event in the Champagne Bar.
Sat 23: Washboard Resonators @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm. £12.00.
Sat 23: Paul Skerritt Big Band @ Westovian Theatre, South Shields. 7:30pm.

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Spelk at The Side Café Feb 9.

The North East Jazz Collective offered Newcastle jazz fans their first opportunity to hear Spelk, the recently formed trio of Chris Sharkey (guitar), Andy Champion (electric bass) and Adrian Tilbrook (drums). Where shall I begin ? With a question. When is the CD coming out ?
Andy Champion's amp, pedalboard and Rickenbacker bass promised a burn-up and that's exactly what we got - a high octane performance from start to finish.
''Rickenbacker'' Champion laid-down a killer bass line and just when you thought you were in your comfort zone he would shift it to another groove. Adrian Tilbrook responded with ease and in turn took-off in other directions. Chris Sharkey, a hooded, Grim Reaper figure, was steadfast. A left-hander, he developed rich textures both with and without a plectrum.
Blistering fretwork was matched by Tilbrook's lightning reactions and immense power, at times recalling the power-house style of Dennis Chambers. Indeed such was the effort of Mr.T. that at times he writhed-up out of his drum chair straining every sinew, so much so that at one point the kit wasn't enough and the edge of the fire place came in for some treatment (move over Hans Bennink). Newcastle jazz fans will be familiar with regular vistors from New York band The Hub. The bass and drums team of Tim Dahl and Sean Noonan would have been run out of town by Champion and Tilbrook. The north east trio alluded to and evoked (to these ears at least) the sounds of Zorn, Pastorius, Scofield, Jack Bruce, late-period Miles (Marcus Miller, Darryl Jones), Bill Frisell and a myriad of others. Guitar players should check-out Sharkey. Those who know Champion and Tilbrook should check-out this trio. Mr.C. & Mr.T. are imperious in their playing of standards, that we know;hear them play this material and be amazed.
Russell.

7 comments :

Lance said...

You only missed out one thing in an otherwise excellent report, Russell.
You failed to mention the finery the three Emperors were wearing!

Anonymous said...

Yes another excellent gig at The Side. What variety we get there!
It's already become something of an institution - all credit to Paul Edis for his unselfish hard work in the cause of these sessions. Chris Sharkey is a unique player - I've never heard anyone play quite like this. Fragmented angular phrasing, powerhouse riffs, delicate ambiguous chord voicings and sound pads, weird arpeggios and lots more. In an age when it seems like it's all been done and very difficult to be substantially different he has somehow managed to achieve just that. In similar style to Boeren's Quartet last Friday each trio member listens, reacts, initiates - that's the name of the game these days. All credit.
Roly

Anonymous said...

Chris , Andy and Adrian would like to thank Russell for his very flattering comments regarding Monday nights gig at the side. We would also like to mention to Lance that next time out the trio will be wearing their new band uniforms modelled on the ones used at the Oxford Galleries in the 60's & 70’s (yes I do remember them!). Anyway we still love you.

SPELK (Chris, Andy, Adrian)

cptfinch said...

I quite agree with the above. I particularly enjoyed the high tempo grooves - at one point i thought I was at a high-octane drum n bass night! great interplay

Hil said...

"You failed to mention the finery the three Emperors were wearing!"

This comment is lost on me Lance. Can you please explain what your on about?

Confused of Cullercoats.

Anonymous said...

Just me being too clever Hil(if only!) An oblique reference to Hans Christian Anderson's story - "The Emperor's New Clothes".
In retrospect, I think I enjoyed it!

Anonymous said...

Hi Lance

Just to let Hil know,I got the reference and chose to ignore it!

Russell

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