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Bebop Spoken There

Billy Boy Arnold: “As long as you don't think old you're good.” - DownBeat, December, 2023.

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...

Postage

16051 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 1058 of them this year alone and, so far, 12 this month (Dec. 6).

From This Moment On ...

December

Sat 09: Prudhoe Community Band @ Central Station, Newcastle. 10:00am - 12 noon. Charity fundraiser.
Sat 09: Durham Alumni Big Band @ Number One Bar, Skinnergate, Darlington. 1:00pm.
Sat 09: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Sat 09: Hayley's Little Big Band @ Middleton & Todridge Village Hall, Morpeth. 7:30pm. £12.00., £6.00.
Sat 09: Paul Skerritt @ Slaley Hall, Hexham NE47 0BX. 7:30pm. From £42.00.

Sun 10: Musicians Unlimited’s Xmas Party with Zoë Gilby Quartet @ Park Inn, Hartlepool. MU 1:00-3:00pm; Zoë Gilby Quartet 4:00-6:00pm. Tickets: £7.50.
Sun 10: Alan Law, Paul Grainger & Abbie Finn @ Darlington Market, Market Square, Darlington. 1:00pm. Free. A ‘Christmas Market’ outdoor gig. Wrap up warm!
Sun 10: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00-4:00pm. Free.
Sun 10: Funk Soul Sista @ Stack, Seaburn. 5:00-7:00pm. Free.
Sun 10: Beth Clarke @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 10: Hayley's Little Big Band @ Whittingham Memorial Institute, Alnwick. 7:30pm. £12.00., £10.00.
Sun 10: Tele-Port @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Line-up inc. Zhenya Strigalev.

Mon 11: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 11: Interim Final Recitals @ Newcastle University. Details TBC.

Tue 12: Stu Collingwood Organ Trio @ Forum Music Centre, Darlington. 7:00pm. £10.00.

Wed 13: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 13: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 13: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 13: Bold Big Band @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm.
Wed 13: Giles Strong Quartet @ Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thu 14: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 14: Hot Fingers @ The Lubetkin Theatre, Peterlee. 7:00pm. £10.00.
Thu 14: After Hours Student Jazz Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 14: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. . Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 14: Niffi Osiyemi Trio @ Harbour View, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 14: Mo Scott ‘Little Mo’s Festive Appearance’ @ The Schooner, Gateshead. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 14: Tees Hot Club w. Kevin Eland, Josh Bentham, Garry Hadfield, Adrian Beadnell @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Fri 15: Paul Edis @ Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 15: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 15: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 15: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 15: Paul Skerritt @ Black Horse Inn, Crook. From 7:00pm.
Fri 15: Paul Edis: A Jazzy Christmas @ St Cuhtbert's Centre, Crook. 7:30pm. £15.00. SOLD OUT! Waiting list open.
Fri 15: Zoë Gilby Trio @ Seventeen Nineteen, Hendon, Sunderland. 7:30pm. £12.00. POSTPONED!
Fri 15: Strictly Smokin' Big Band @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 8:00pm. First night of two.
Fri 15: Darlington Big Band @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £10.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 15: Baghdaddies @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00.; £10.00.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Double Knockout @ The Bridge!

Legohead: (right) Lloyd Wright (gtr), David Francis (dms), Jon Proud (bs).
HCW: (left) Edd Carr (gtr), John Hirst (dms), Christos Worsley (bs).
The first Sunday evening jazz gig at the Bridge went off with a bang despite some early teething problems with amps, speakers, lights etc. which meant that the advertised 7:30 pm start seemed to be 'light years' away when John Hirst unleashed HCW's opener on the crowded room (yes the room was crowded!)
I didn't mind the delay as I was in the congenial company of Budvivar's Fiona and Chilli regular Norman Redhead - who is slowly but surely making a visual comeback.
I liked HCW when I first heard them at the Side Café, enjoyed them even more at last week's Jazzathon and today they appeared to be even tighter again.
John Hirst is an imaginative drummer; his approach is at times almost melodic and he has no shortage of technique.
Edd Carr sometimes strays further into the rock end of the jazz/rock genre than some people might prefer but I find he balances the equation very effectively.
On bass, Christos Worsley, laid back and relaxed, gets a really good sound and helps to make the balance just right.
One thing I like about Christos, apart from his playing is the fact that I usually have some chat with his dad (or is it his granda - maybe even his great grandf... sorry only joking) Johhny Worth aka Worsley aka Les Vandyke has had a long career in showbiz as singer/songwriter and is always entertaining company.
I digress. HCW did good.
David Francis I knew from Alter Ego, Jon Proud and Lloyd Wright I didn't know.
I know now.
Lloyd Wright is quite an incredible player. He is up there with them for technique and ideas. He also writes interesting tunes.
The outstanding moment for me, and for Roly too I guess was an original called "Getaway Driver". If ever an instrumental lived up to its title this was it. Dazzling runs in and around every inch of the fretboard of the Strat, sudden brief rests, explosive starts - this was a souped-up Pontiac burning up the Freeway.
It brought to my mind that legendary Alvin Lee solo at Woodstock but Roly, more guitar savvy than me, equated it to Brecker's Mike Stern. Whatever it was one helluva blast.
David on drums handled the sometimes awkward breaks superbly and soloed well. Jon Proud played good bass with a touch of humour in his Jingle Bell's quote. Everybody's quoting it this season.
Great night and so pleased to see such a good turnout.
Lance.

1 comment :

David Francis said...

Many thanks for the kind words Lance. We weren't sure if the Jazz police would make some kind of citizen's arrest (!) but thankfully most people seemed to enjoy the evening. VERY encouraging audience numbers. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come. I know I can't wait til next week's gig!

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