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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.

Saturday, March 27, 2010

VOTNJO with Jason Yarde at the Sage Gateshead Jazz Festival.

Well-known standards apart, I always feel inadequate commenting on jazz performances as I lack the necessary critical vocabulary and knowledge of the genre. But, to adapt a well-known saying,: I know nothing about jazz, but I know what I like. And last night’s VOTNJO/Jason Yarde gig, I loved!
      I had not heard of, or heard, Jason Yarde before (all right, I’ve admitted my ignorance already!) but I will remember the name now! His performance on sax, his amazing compositions and his hyperactive stage-presence, made for a memorable evening. 
His pre-concert talk had mentioned diverse influences such as hip-hop, reggae and (his parents’) James Brown, and the pieces performed reflected that variety. Jason also explained that, when composing for big bands, he liked to motivate and “engage” all the individual musicians by ensuring that there was something challenging or a bit different for them to tackle at some point in each piece: no slouching back in the “comfort-zone” a large group might otherwise encourage. This too was evident on stage where the musicians were, at times, visibly on tenterhooks but, at the same time, thoroughly enjoying every moment as the time flew by. The talk also shed light on the aforementioned hyperactive stage-presence: although loving classical music, Jason did not fancy the “conservatoire” approach as a student and opted, instead, for a performance arts course where other disciplines – dance especially – came into play. No wonder, as a conductor, he makes Izzy Barratt look immobile!
      I enjoyed the shorter pieces (the first, I think, was called “Tag”) which preceded the main course – the suite (apologies, Lance, if that sounds like a gastronomic paradox!), “Four letter words for four letters heard”. These gave a flavour of what was to come with varied rhythms and changes of volume (full volume was mighty impressive in the superb acoustics of the hall!) and some great sax playing by Jason himself. In the suite, Jason the sax-player gave way, for the most part to Jason the conductor, but the band ensured that no vacuum was left in the music. It was all powerful stuff with many excellent solos on trombone, trumpet and various saxophones. Outstanding, for me, was the section where Sue Ferris had a long flute solo – maybe because it brought back memories of when our house was seldom without some solo flute on the go! A cack-handed compliment, perhaps, from a self-confessed ignoramus, but Andy Champion seems to get better and better every time I hear him, as well. I also liked the part where all but the rhythm section downed tools and clapped (rhythmically), which typified, for me, the “fun” nature of the whole performance.
      I can’t wait to hear more! 
     Jerry Edis.

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