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Bebop Spoken There

Charles McPherson: “Jazz is best heard in intimate places”. (DownBeat, July, 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

16611 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 1504 of them this year alone and, so far, 50 this month (July 23).

From This Moment On ...

July

Sat 27: BBC Proms: BBC Introducing stage @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 12 noon. Free. Line-up inc. Nu Groove (2:00pm); Abbie Finn Trio (2:50pm); Dilutey Juice (3:50pm); SwanNek (5:00pm); Rivkala (6:00pm).
Sat 27: Nomade Swing Trio @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sat 27: Mississippi Dreamboats @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sat 27: Milne-Glendinning Band @ Cafédral, Owengate, Durham. 9:00pm. £9.00. & £6.00. A Durham Fringe Festival event.
Sat 27: Theon Cross + Knats @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 10:00pm. £22.00. BBC Proms: BBC Introducing Stage (Sage Two). A late night gig.

Sun 28: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm.
Sun 28: Miss Jean & the Ragtime Rewind Swing Band @ Fonteyn Ballroom, Dunelm House (Durham Students’ Union), Durham. 2:00pm. £9.00. & £6.00. A Durham Fringe Festival event.
Sun 28: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: Nomade Swing Trio @ Red Lion, Alnmouth. 4:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 28: Jeffrey Hewer Collective @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 28: Milne Glendinning Band @ Cafédral, Owengate, Durham. 9:00pm. £9.00. & £6.00. A Durham Fringe Festival event.

Mon 29: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 30: ???

Wed 31: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 31: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 31: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

August

Thu 01: Gateshead Jazz Appreciation Society @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:30pm. £4.00.
Thu 01: Funky Drummer @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 01: Elsadie & the Bobcats @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 02: Mainly Two @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free (donations). SOLD OUT! Fri 02: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 02: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 02: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 02: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. POSTPONED!

Monday, July 05, 2010

Alter Ego @ Queens Hall, Hexham - Friday 2nd July

Keith Robinson (alto sax); Niall Armstrong (tenor & flute); Dave Hignett (trumpet & flugel); Andy Hawking (keyboards); David Francis (drums); Ken Marley (double bass) (up from Stockport as sub for Ian Paterson).
They were the 1st band I blogged, at the same venue, for this site early last June. With Keith Robinson very much present this year both on alto and as leader, no guitarist (a plus for me) and a stand-in double bass player, Alter Ego gave a wonderfully honed and spirited performance. Maybe due to the combination of barbeque weather, football & tennis, the turnout was a sparse twenty odd, yet dedicated fans, including Terry Ellis, jazz guitarist of Last Exit fame.
Bobby Watson's Love Remains demonstrated fully for me how far Alter Ego have come since June 2009 - David Francis chose the soft sticks on the toms, capturing a sultry Latin feel, as the piece moved off against the fading Caribbean light. Hignett's flugel danced tantalisingly in front of the band followed by Niall's deft flute solo, while Keith's alto swayed in silhouetted harmony with the flute, bass and palms. The arrangement reminded me of Gil Evans' late 40's phase - La Paloma-esque - but this time with Andy Hawking providing a subtle, Bill Evans on holiday in Cuba, touch on keyboards.
Building on the holiday theme, a more contemporary surprise came in set 2 - a Les Hooper piece from 1987 called Coastal Breeze; not an easy one to pull off in a faster rumba style but this band has really worked things out: such an expressive control of the waves, the rise and fall, ebb and flow, created what was a distinct scent of ozone as Ken Marley's bowed bass solo seemed to move longingly over the perfect contours of a sun-kissed beach!
This year, after prolonged loud applause, we got that well-deserved encore - a short but sweet delivery of Pam Watson's Ms.B.C. dedicated to Betty Carter and 1st recorded by Art Blakey's JM in 81.
In June 2009 I awarded man-of-the-match to Dave Hignett on trumpet and flugel horn ; this year is no exception but, like the German football team, Alter Ego play so well together with their heads up, they all scored goals - a fine game ; 6:0!
George M.

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