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Bebop Spoken There

Simon Spillett: “ Bebop and hard bop came naturally to him [Tubby Hayes]". Morning Star, March 28, 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

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.
Fri 29: True Colours @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 9:00pm. Blues, jazz & swing.

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.

Thu 04: FILM: Soul @ Forum Cinema, Hexham. 2:00pm. Jazz-themed film animation.
Thu 04: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 04: Funky Drummer @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 04: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 04: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Monday, February 06, 2012

Anth Purdy @ The King’s Arms, Seaton Sluice. Sunday 5th February

Anth Purdy (gtr).
Arriving at a freezing, wind-swept Seaton Sluice – to the north Blyth’s off-shore wind turbines winking and waving through the gloom, the reassuring pristine-white St Mary’s lighthouse to the south – the King’s Arms was a welcoming sight from the main road. Would there be room at the inn? Just about – snug was the word. The beer ranged from session beer Deuchar’s IPA (3.9%) to the formidable Old Peculier (5.6). I opted for a pint of the formidable. 
A beautiful f-hole Gibson in repose, an as yet unoccupied stool, things were set fair. 
Guitarist Anthony Purdy cut a figure; youthful, chiseled looks, sharp suit, braces ‘n’ all. The publicity poster for the gig – ‘Swing Jazz Guitar’ – extolled the genius of Charlie Christian and Les Paul. Perhaps we’d hear reference to Barney Kessel or our own James Birkett? Purdy, a personable character, name-checked a raft of jazz ‘n’ blues guitar greats - Charlie Christian, Django Reinhardt, T-Bone Walker, Les Paul and Hank Marvin. ‘Hank Marvin!’ I hear you say. Why not? This was a guitar gig by a rockabilly player digging into the history of the music. He assumed – rightly – that the audience wasn’t a bona fide jazz crowd and mixed it up to good effect. 
Almost all of the tunes were Purdy’s, drawing heavily on the styles of his guitar heroes. Furthermore, Purdy worked with his own rhythm guitar backing tracks throughout. ‘Backing tracks!’ I can hear the hoots of derision from here. Don’t knock it, I say. Each of the tunes was brief and to the point. Purdy thought this rather apt as the guitar masters of the 30’s and 40’s were restricted to little more than two minutes due to the limitations of the phonographic recording process of the era. 
Stompin’ at the Savoy opened the set followed by any number of albeit highly derivative original compositions – Swiss Miss, Jazzin’ with the 125, Paris 1939, Dustbowl and others. Another pint of the formidable in hand and a second set of more of the same went down well. The 6 O’clock Jive, Mockingbird Swing, Jitterbug Stomp and Ain’t Misbehavin’. Purdy presented an entertaining set of tunes, lovingly played with a distinct jump-jive feel and this made for a welcome change to the usual take on the period guitar styles. 
The King’s Arms’ publican is supportive of Purdy’s efforts and there is another chance to hear him on Sunday 4th March (check out Bebop Spoken Here nearer the time). Meanwhile visit Anthony Purdy’s Myspace page – www.myspace.com/swingjazzguitar.uk
Russell      

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