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Bebop Spoken There

Jackie Paris: "A singer's got to be able to tell a story. Frank Sinatra and Nat Cole are best at that; Mel Tormé too. I like to take a lyric that means something and sing it right to the person it was meant for." - (DownBeat October 11, 1962).

Archive

Daily: July 6 - October 27

Precarity John Akomfrah’s film (2017, 46 mins) about Buddy Bolden - Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead Quays, South Shore Road, Gateshead NE8 3BA. Tel: 0191 478 1810. Screenings at intervals during the day. Part of Akomfrah's exhibition Ballasts of Memory. Exhibition (daily) July 6 - October 27. 10:00am-6:00pm. Free.

Today Monday September 16

Afternoon

Jazz

Precarity John Akomfrah’s film (2017, 46 mins) about Buddy Bolden (see above).

Jazz in the Afternoon - Cullercoats Crescent Club, 1 Hudleston, Cullercoats NE30 4QS. Tel: 0191 253 0242. 1:00pm. Free admission.

Evening

?????

To the best of our knowledge, details of the above events are correct but may be subject to alteration.

Friday, June 29, 2012

Take the A Train with Radio 4

You just must listen to the Documentary of the Week on Radio 4. It’s all about the A train, yes, the one immortalised in the Billy Strayhorn number that Ellington used as his signature tune. 35 miles of heavy railtrack, which runs through New York and its suburbs. I was so glad to catch this programme at 11am today. It explains what you can expect to experience on the journey, the homeless people who live on the train, rubbing shoulders with the rich, the graffiti artists and the workers. The journey takes you through beautiful scenery and places of cultural significance. You’ll hear many different languages. Apparently 136 different languages are spoken in the Queens area of New York. There was an interview in the National Jazz Museum at Harlem, accompanied by someone playing the trombone.
Catch this on the BBC i player if you want to know about the cultural scene around New York jazz.
Link to program.
Ann Alex.
(Photo of A Train courtesy of Hilary Gilby.)
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3 comments :

Lance said...

Thank you Ann for drawing this program to our attention. It gave a really good picture of this legendary train.
There are 2 versions - local and express. When I boarded it I got on the express instead of the local and travelled 10 stops further than I needed! But yes it's as exotic a journey as any journey anywhere. A couple of girls asked me a question in French. I didn't know what the question was so I said, "Non". I've often wondered if I'd made the greatest mistake of my life there...

Friday, June 29, 2012 11:48:00 pm
Liz said...

just listened to it, absolutely fascinating, thank you Ann for pointing it out...loved the bit when that lady said, "Whatever nationality you are on the A train, you will be in the minority!"
Liz

Saturday, June 30, 2012 4:38:00 pm
Anonymous said...

I did exactly the same as Lance. I wanted to go to 110th and it took me to 124th. Nobody asked me any questions but I got a lot of questioning looks walking the fourteen blocks to 110th.

Tuesday, July 03, 2012 7:39:00 pm

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About this blog - contact details.

Bebop Spoken Here -- Here, being the north-east of England -- centred in the blues heartland of Newcastle and reaching down to the Tees Delta and looking upwards to the Land of the Kilt.
Not a very original title, I know; not even an accurate one as my taste, whilst centred around the music of Bird and Diz, extends in many directions and I listen to everything from King Oliver to Chick Corea and beyond. Not forgetting the Great American Songbook the contents of which has provided the inspiration for much great jazz and quality popular singing for round about a century.
The idea of this blog is for you to share your thoughts and pass on your comments on discs, gigs, jazz - music in general. If you've been to a gig/concert or heard a CD that knocked you sideways please share your views with us. Tell us about your favourites, your memories, your dislikes.
Lance (Who wishes it to be known that he is not responsible for postings other than his own and that he's not always responsible for them.)
Contact: lanceliddle@gmail.com I look forward to hearing from you.

Submissions for review

Whilst we appreciate the many emails, texts, messages and other communications we receive requesting album/gig reviews on BSH, regrettably, we are unable to reply to all of them other than those we are able to answer with a positive response.
Similarly, CDs received by post will only be considered if accompanied by sufficient background material.
Finally, bear in mind that this is a jazz-based site when submitting your album.
Lance