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Bebop Spoken There

Kurt Elling: ''There's something to learn from every musician you play with''. (DownBeat, December 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

17630 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 904 of them this year alone and, so far, 49 this month (Dec. 20).

From This Moment On ...

December

Fri 20: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 20: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 20: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 1:00-3:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 20: Baghdaddies @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 20: Smokin’ Spitfires @ Platform 1, East Bedlington Community Centre. 7:00pm.
Fri 20: Pete Tanton’s Christmas @ 1719, Hendon, Sunderland. 7:30pm. CANCELLED!
Fri 20: Alligator Gumbo @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 20: Abbie Finn’s Finntet @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 20: Brass Fiesta @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 10:30pm. Free.

Sat 21: Lindsay Hannon Quartet @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £15.00. ‘Swinging with Christmas Songs’.
Sat 21: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 21: Jackson’s Wharf Xmas Party @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 7:00pm. Free. Featuring the New ’58 Jazz Collective.
Sat 21: Brass Fiesta @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 10:30pm. Free.

Sun 22: Hot Club du Nord @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £15.00. + bf. Xmas party. SOLD OUT!
Sun 22: Red Kites Jazz @ Gibside Chapel, nr. Rowlands Gill. 1:00pm. Admission charge applies.
Sun 22: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 22: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: Revolutionaires @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Superb rhythm & blues outfit.
Sun 22: Laurence Harrison, Paul Grainger & Mark Robertson @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Line-up TBC.
Sun 22: The Globe Xmas Party @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Live music (musicians TBC).
Sun 22: Ray Stubbs R & B All-Stars @ Zerox, Sandhill, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors).

Mon 23: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Wheatsheaf, Benton Sq., Whitley Road, Palmersville NE12 9SU. Tel: 0191 266 8137. 1:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Mon 23: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 4:00pm. Free.
Mon 23: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Mon 23: Milne-Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.

Tue 24: Lindsay Hannon & Mark Williams @ Ernest, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 11:00am-1:00pm. Free.
Tue 24: Paul Skerritt @ Mambo Wine & Dine, South Shields. 1:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.

Wed 25: Wot? No jazz!

Thu 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free. TBC.
Thu 26: The Boneshakers @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. The 17th annual Boneshakers’ Shindig.

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Randy Brecker w. SNJO and Edinburgh Schools Jazz Orchestra, Queen's Hall, Edinburgh May 25.


Randy Brecker (tpt) w. SNJO - Ryan Quigley, Tom MacNiven, Cameron Jay, Lorne Cowieson (tpts); Chris Greive, Phil O'Malley, Kevin Garrity, Michael Owers (tmbs); Martin Kershaw, Paul Towndrow (alt); Tommy Smith (MD), Konrad Wiszniewski (ten); Bill Fleming (bar); Steve Hamilton (pno/keys); Kevin Glasgow (bs); Kevin Mackenzie (gtr); Alyn Cosker (dms).
This was an incredible evening - a living legend in the form of Randy Brecker, arguably the world's best big band and a youthful ensemble that may one day be playing with them.
The big picture was a tribute to the late Michael Brecker, younger brother of tonight's headliner. All compositions were by Michael Brecker and the variety and the authoritativeness of his writing showed just why he'd won so many Grammys. Big brother Randy displayed an awesome technique both open horned and muted as well as by occasionally incorporating various effects units. Not that this was a case of USA 5 Scotland 1.
Far from it.

In Ryan Quigley Scotland have a trumpet player who can hold his own with anyone - even Randy Brecker. Tom MacNiven also impressed on flugel whilst among the reeds MD Tommy Smith's tenor fitted well into the role of Brecker jr. as did Konrad W. with altoists Towndrow and Kershaw too having their chance to put the boot in. Kevin Mackenzie had some tasty moments on guitar but, great as the soloists are with SNJO, it is the power and the depth, the light and the shade of the band that is their strength. If this band were allowed to go under because of funding problems it would be the biggest Scottish disaster since Culloden.
Earlier, Brecker had made an appearance with the Edinburgh Schools Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Dan Hallam.
With a three girl vocal group (The St. Andrew's Sisters?) they gave a spirited work out to The Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy From Company B. America's own bugle boy blew on the next number giving the young players something to add to their CV.
A pre-show talk between Brecker and Tommy Smith revealed much about the brothers early musical lives and, in answer to my question, Randy said he had a couple of projects in the offing one of which was a Brecker Brothers alumni reunion with such as David Sanborn and Mike Stern. Another mouthwatering prospect but, for the moment, I'll savour for eternity tonight's gig.
Incidentally, should you visit the Queen's Hall, Edinburgh (Carol Kidd's on next week with Brian Kellock) then go early. There's a host of book shops, record shops, charity shops, pubs nearby - Princes Street? Forget it - this is the real Edinburgh.
Lance.
Edinburgh Schools Jazz Orchestra: Dan Hallam (MD); Florence Clark, Manon Davis,  Cameron Sanderson, Fergus Kelly (alt); Michael Tai, Max Clee (ten); Jarvan Herman (bar). Aaron Akugbo, Magnus Westwell, Michael Watson, David Watson, Michaila Mark (tpts); Rory Hand, Euan Fraser, Conor Joss, Leon Ballin, Adam Crighton (tmbs); Ali Gray, Stephen Jack, Gus Cassie, Jack Westwell, James Paul (rhythm); Anna Kaye, Rushee Morton, Anna McLuckie (vcl group).

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