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Bebop Spoken There

Ambrose Akinmusire: “ I am certainly always aware of what the masses are doing. And when I see too many people going one way, I'm going another way - even when I don't know what's over that way". DownBeat, March, 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

Tue 19: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Tim Johnston.

Wed 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 20: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 20: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 21: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 21: Castillo Neuvo Trio + Conor Emery & His ‘Bones Band @ The Grove, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £10.00. (£7.00. student).
Thu 21: Remi Banklyn + Chris Corcoran Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.50. Chicago blues. An International Guitar Foundation promotion.
Thu 21: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Ragtime piano.
Thu 21: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 22: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 22: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 22: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 22: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 22: Nauta + Remy CB + Last Orders @ Hoochie Coochie, Newcastle. 8:30pm (7:30pm doors). Free.
Fri 22: Vasilis Xenopoulos-Paul Edis Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £15.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 22: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 23: Jambone @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Free (ticketed). End of term performance in the Northern Rock Foundation Hall.
Sat 23: Milne-Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 23: Red Kites Jazz @ Rowlands Gill Community Centre NE39 1JB. 7:00pm. Tickets: £12.00. (gibsidecommunityfarm@gmail.com). A ‘Build a Barn’ fundraiser. BYOB, tea/coffee available.
Sat 23: New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00. + bf (book in person at venue - no booking fee!). Featuring pianist Martin Litton.
Sat 23: Pete Tanton’s Cuba Libre @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 24: Musicians Unlimited @ Park Inn, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 24: Luis Verde @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. Verde (alto sax); Joe Steels (guitar); John Pope (double bass); John Hirst (drums). Alto sax brilliance!
Sun 24: Elsie Franklin @ The Globe, Newcastle. 3:00pm. £10.00. Country blues. An International Guitar Foundation promotion.
Sun 24: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay Metro Station. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: Las Vegas Live with the Rat Pack @ The Forum, Billingham.
Sun 24: Ian Millar & Dominic Spencer @ Otterburn Memorial Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Sun 24: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Note start time - 7:00pm.
Sun 24: Bold Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 25: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tuesday, June 05, 2012

Take the Metro Train and make sure they Drop You Off at Tynemouth

(Review by Russell).
St.James’ Metro station. People get ready there’s a train a-comin’. Get on board. Next stop Monument. Margaret B. got on board, two jazz-loving Americans in tow. Welcome aboard the 12:16 Jazz Age Time Travel Special! The next station is Tynemouth. Alight here for the Roaring Twenties. Blue Skies. Sun beating down, cracking the refurbished glass roof canopy, the station platform resembled Grand Central Station at rush hour. Excuse me, thank you. Excuse me, thanks.
Making headway through the throng took time and patience. A familiar face here (Norman), over there (Dave K) and that’s Roly (on the bandstand – give him a wave). Hi Ruth (looking cool in black, expressing concern at the unfamiliar keys on which she was about to exercise her vocals chords). Maureen H had secured a spot half way up the stairs (over there to your left). Over on the right a local politician – just out of reach of a left hook - was basking in the reflected glory of the assembled talent. 
The talent: John Carstairs Hallam’s Sweet and Hot Orchestra: John Carstairs Hallam (double bass), Brian Chester (piano), Roly Veitch (guitar), Ian Forbes (drums), Jim McBriarty (alto saxophone, clarinet & vocals), Alan Marshall (alto saxophone & clarinet), Gavin Lee (tenor saxophone), Sue Ferris (tenor and baritone saxophones, clarinet), Alan Smith (trumpet), Mick Hill (trumpet), Neville Hartley (trombone), Don Fairley (trombone) & Ruth Lambert (vocals). 
St.Louis Blues signalled the start of the one hour set. Drummer Ian Forbes’ crisp work set-up the brass section, reeds followed with the rhythm section well oiled (musically you understand – this was a professional engagement). All on the stand were reading their parts determined to meet MD Carstairs Hallam’s exacting standards. The avuncular bandleader had clearly devoted many hours to lovingly arranging the material. Jeepers Creepers, A Tisket A Tasket (great vocal by Ruth ‘Ella’ Lambert), Moonlight Serenade, A String of Pearls, South of the Border and The Palais Glide (expertly arranged)  were but a few of many familiar dance band numbers. 
Camera phones were held aloft to capture the moment, couples danced and jugglers kept their eyes firmly on the tools of their trade as stilt walkers turned many a head. The next train out of town pulled into Platform 1. All aboard for the Crescent Club Jazz Special! Down the tracks to Cullercoats Bay the seahorses reared-up, then, backs broken, lay spent, exhausted on the sands. 
Inside, the place was busy. The second set was about to begin. A seat was offered, most welcome. The JCH Sweet and Hot had recruited one or two of the house band regulars for the day along the line at Tynemouth so deps were called in and they proved more than able. Bassist Bill Colledge came over from the South Side and the inimitable Roy Gibson played piano. Regular front man Iain MacAulay added another six strings to his bow – he played guitar during drummer Ollie Rilland’s rock ‘n’ roll medley – and clarinetist Derek Fleck sat and played as if in his own front room (relaxed I’d say!). Teresa Armstrong and John Broddle sang. The great Doris Fenn (ukulele) sat in second set. 
The day had started in Tynemouth with St.Louis Blues and - what’s the odds? – finished in Cullercoats with St.Louis Blues. For the record: Iain MacAulay (trombone, trumpet, guitar & vocals), Derek Fleck (clarinet), Roy Gibson (keyboards), Bill Colledge (electric bass), Ollie Rillands (drums & vocals), Doris Fenn (ukulele), Teresa Armstrong (vocals) & John Broddle (vocals). 
Next train Newcastle. In toon we called into Marks and Spencers for a pot of tea, a black coffee and teacakes. Aye, we jazzers live life in the fast lane.
Photos Courtesy of Carstairs.
Russell  

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