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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

15229 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 248 of them this year alone and, so far, 61 this month (March 20).

From This Moment On ...

March

Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.
Fri 24: FILM: Mo' Better Blues @ Forum Cinema, Hexham. 7:00pm.
Fri 24: Ian Millar & Dominic Spencer @ Scarth Hall, Staindrop, Co. Durham. 8:00pm. £10.00.
Fri 24: Archipelago + Bulbils @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.

Sat 25: Vermont Big Band @ Walker Community Centre, Walker, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Fundraiser for Benfield Juniours Football Club. Hot food available, BYOB.
Sat 25: John Logan & Friends @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Rat Pack, Motown etc. 8:00pm. Free (donations).

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited @ Park Inn, Hartlepool. 1:00pm.
Sun 26: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 3:00pm.
Sun 26: Outlines @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. JNE promotion (upstairs).

Mon 27: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.

Tue 28: Paul Skerritt @ The Rabbit Hole, Hallgarth St., Durham DH1 3AT. 7:00pm. Paul Skerritt's (solo) weekly residency.
Tue 28: Sanaz Lavasani Trio @ Black Swan, Newcastle Arts Centre. 8:00pm. £12.00 (£10.00. adv).

Wed 29: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 29: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 29: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:00pm.
Wed 29: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

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: '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.

Tuesday, May 01, 2012

CD Review - Dagda Quartet: DAGDA ((w. Michael Buckley.)

Tom Harrison (alt); Michael Buckley (sop/ten); Billy Adamson (gtr); Tom West (bs); Mike Clowes (dms).
Dagda is the leader of the Tuatha-De-Danann. He is the god of life, death, war, banquets, and magic. He carries a club so big it has to be carried on a cart. 
This was what I discovered when I Googled the band name - and there was me thinking it was some form of contemporary five string banjo tuning!
Not that there were any banjos on this gig! Having heard the band live only a couple of days ago and been suitably impressed I looked forward to hearing the CD and I wasn't disappointed.
Although Tenor Titan Toussaint is replaced by the Dynamic Dublin Doubler Buckley the quality level is undiminished. Not only did the Irishman blow powerful solos on soprano and tenor he also mixed, mastered and produced the whole shebang!
However, this is primarily Harrison's baby. Tom composed the Suite For RLH which was dedicated to his grandfather who may or may not have been the leader of the Tuatha-De-Danann - if he wasn't he should have been. Anyone who can inspire such an impressive work as this must have been quite a guy!
As it was at Sunday's concert, Harrison's alto playing is superb, at times lyrical and melodic, other times forceful and aggressive. Currently in his final year at Trinity he is a musical sandwich board for that seat of learning!
Guitarist Adamson composed and was featured on Song in C - a delicate probing piece with a slightly folky feel to it that built to a logical climax - Mike Clowes drums helping to increase the tension before the horns brought it gently back down.
NLTD showcased Buckley who, driven along by Clowes and West, impressed.
The only non original - Strayhorn's A Flower is a Lovesome Thing - featured Tom West on double bass and Harrison, at his most lyrical - I look forward to hearing much more of him and of Dagda!.
Dagda Quartet, 'Dagda' (LR009) - further details..
Lance.

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