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Bebop Spoken There

Abbie Finn: "Even though there's a lot of great work being done to promote women in jazz, I still come up against some attitudes! I pulled up at a recording session with my drums in the car and the studio owner said, 'I'm sorry, this space is reserved for the drummer!'" - (Jazzwise April 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!"

Postage

15260 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 279 of them this year alone and, so far, 92 this month (March 29).

From This Moment On ...

March

Thu 30: Gateshead Jazz Appreciation Society @ Gateshead Central Library. 2:30-4:30pm. £2.00. All welcome.
Thu 30: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. Back to 1:00pm stomp off. Free.
Thu 30: Castillo Nuevo @ Revolución de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30-8:30pm.
Thu 30: '58 Jazz Collective @ Hops & Cheese, Hartlepool. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 30: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Harbour View, Sunderland. 8:00pm.
Thu 30: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Fri 31: Lewis Watson Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Town Hall. 1:00pm. Due to phenomenal demand, extra tickets released - gig now in the theatre. Book at: www.bishopaucklandtownhall.org.uk
Fri 31: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 31: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 31: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm. CANCELLED! Back next week (April 7).
Fri 31: Castillo Nuevo @ Revolución de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30-8:30pm.
Fri 31: Jasmine Myra + Waclaw Zimpel @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Fri 31: The Revolutionaires @ The Shack, Boldon Colliery. 7:30pm. £10.00. The Revolutionaires' big band (horn section) line-up.
Fri 31: Andrew McCormack @ Maltings, Berwick. 8:00pm. £20.00.

April
Sat 01: The Big Easy @ St Augustine's Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm.
Sat 01: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. Tutor: Steve Glendinning - In a Minor Key. £25.00. Enrol at: www.jazz.coop.
Sat 01: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington Covered Market, Darlington DL1 5PN. 6:00pm. New venue, live jazz!
Sat 01: Jambone @ Sage Gateshead. 7:00pm. Free (book online). A YMP! event in the Northern Rock Foundation Hall.
Sat 01: Jude Murphy & Dan Stanley @ Prohibtion Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.
Sat 01: Boys of Brass @ Stack, Seaburn. 7:00-9:00pm.
Sat 01: Hot Club du Nord @ Pleased to Meet You, Bridge St., Morpeth. 8:00pm. £79.00. A charity fundraising event.
Sat 01: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00. RESCHEDULED to next week (Sat 08).

Sun 02: Smokin' Spitfires @ The Cluny. 12:45pm.
Sun 02: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 3:00pm.

Mon 03: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.

Tue 04: Paul Skerritt @ The Rabbit Hole, Hallgarth St., Durham DH1 3AT. 7:00pm. Paul Skerritt's (solo) weekly residency.
Tue 04: Jam session @ Black Swan, Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. House trio: Bradley Johnston (guitar); Paul Grainger (double bass); Abbie Finn (drums).

Wed 05: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 05: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 05: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:00pm.
Wed 05: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Friday, July 30, 2010

MARTIN DREW DIES.

Sad to report the death of Martin Drew after a heart attack yesterday afternoon.
As late as May this year I heard him at the Kings Head in Crouch End with Simon Spillett, John Critchinson and Andy Cleyndert. He was playing as great as ever and also chatted about the LCD gig at the Corner House with Mornington Lockett and Laurence Cottle. Martin did me the honour of posting my review of that gig on his website.
Previously I'd seen him at York's Early Music Centre with Spillett and Co for another memorable gig (see photo).
But of course my memories of Martin go much further back - the Ronnie Scott Quintet with Dick Pierce, Critch and Ron Mathewson and of course the Peterson years.
Whatever band he played with that band swung like no other. A Grandmaster of his craft.
May he Rest In Peace - sadly missed.
Martin was 66 years old.
Two great drummers within days of each other...
All are invited to add their memories of Martin and Chris.
Lance
Simon Spillett remembers Chris Dagley and Martin Drew.

8 comments :

Dave The Rave said...

Hi Lance:
So sorry to read of the sad demise of drummer Martin Drew, who we met in Dubai in '93 when Jude and I were Key Largo, the lounge duo at the Royal Abjar Hotel. Martin was with the great Ronnie Scott Quartet, who were there to appear at Harry's Place, the Italian restaurant in the hotel, and they did capacity business for three nights running (lots of Brit ex-pats in the audience).
I well remember first meeting Martin, when he sidled up to our little bandstand in the lobby, and grabbed a tambourine and played along with us! While the Quartet played in the restaurant, I was excused from lobby duty to join the restaurant resident quartet, and got to play support for the main attraction (Ronnie and the boys, John Critchinson, Andy Cleyndert and Martin!)
Martin also paid us a social visit, coming to our flat because he was curious about Jude's music programming ability, which he said his daughter was into,and he programmed some great conga rhythms for us on Jude's computer. Later got to talk with him at Appleby, and he was a tremendous player and a nice guy. He wil be missed. Dave the Rave

Liz said...

RIP Martin, thoroughly enjoyed that gig here in York Lance. He was indeed a nice man and of course a fine musician. I remember that, as I watched him, his love of the drums was wonderful to behold
Liz

cptfinch said...

sad to hear that Lance, I saw him at Caedmon hall and chatted with him in the interval. Was a funny guy and amazin on the drums.

shepherdlass said...

RIP Martin: a brilliant musician and a total gent.
Jude x

Russell said...

Hi Lance

Martin was one of the all-time greats.

Russell

Adrian said...

It is indeed a tragic week for the UK drumming community. A double blow with the unusual connection of both having been associated with Ronnie's. I was not an acquaintance of Chris Dagley but I knew of him from seeing him on a few occasions when he played with NYJO. On the other hand I knew Martin quite well and it is such a shame that this great musician is no longer with us.
I have posted a personal piece regarding Martin's passing that you may want to post on BeBop.

Adrian

Roly said...

Just been listening to this on YouTube. I guess you've reached the top when Oscar asks you to join his group.
Creme de la creme as Miss Brodie would say.
Roly
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZbSonHGVXc

Eric Stutt said...

So sorry to hear about Martin Drew he was a legend in british drumming his track record is fab Oscar Peterson for one and also the years with Ronnie Scott at his club. I met him at Appleby Jazz Festival and he was very entertaining sitting at our table outside the Royal Oak Pub where the musicians stay, great bloke and told us lots of tales, on his years in USA Buddy Rich in particular which I cannot print here. He will be sadly missed. Thanks for the opportunity to print this Lance . Regards Eric

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