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Bebop Spoken There

Kelly Sill: "Just because everyone is playing through the changes in the same time doesn't mean they're actually playing together" - (JazzTimes March/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

15260 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 279 of them this year alone and, so far, 92 this month (March 29).

From This Moment On ...

April

Sun 02: Smokin' Spitfires @ The Cluny. 12:45pm.
Sun 02: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 3:00pm.

Mon 03: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.

Tue 04: Paul Skerritt @ The Rabbit Hole, Hallgarth St., Durham DH1 3AT. 7:00pm. Paul Skerritt's (solo) weekly residency.
Tue 04: Jam session @ Black Swan, Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. House trio: Bradley Johnston (guitar); Paul Grainger (double bass); Abbie Finn (drums).

Wed 05: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 05: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 05: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:00pm.
Wed 05: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thu 06: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 06: Thursday Night Prayer Meeting @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Donations. Feat. John Pope, Marie Shreer, John Garner.
Thu 06: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibtion Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Ragtime piano. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.
Thu 06: Darlington Big Band @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Note earlier start time.

Fri 07: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 07: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.
Fri 07: Gaz Hughes Trio @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm.
Fri 07: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Traveller's Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 07: Finntet + Zoë Gilby & Andy Champion @ Bobik's, Punch Bowl, Newcastle. 8:00pm. JNE.
Fri 07: TBA @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig. Blind Pig Blues Club.

Sat 08: Me Lost Me + Ceitidh Mac + Heather Ferrier @ Bobik's, Punch Bowl, Newcastle. 7:30pm. JNE.
Sat 08: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington Covered Market, Darlington DL1 5PN. 6:00pm. New venue, live jazz!
Sat 08: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00. RESCHEDULED from last week (Sat 01).
Sat 08: Robbie Reay @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Acoustic blues. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.
Sat 08: Anth Purdy @ Mr Tighe's, Bebside, Northumberland. 8:30pm.

Friday, June 08, 2012

Watson, Walker, Edis @ The Lit and Phil.

Lewis Watson (ten); Paul Edis (pno); Rob Walker (dms).
(Review by Lance).
The cymbals bring it in - tinkling, shimmering, setting a mood. The composition is called Oh Nothing but it turns out to be something created by the keeper of the cymbals Rob Walker. Edis takes it up on piano a repetitive strain that continues after Watson's tenor luxuriates in some meaningful long notes. The tension builds, the sax develops the theme, piano becomes more intense, sax moves up a gear, drums mixes it with them before they return to base and segue into the next movement of this, what is turning into being a beautiful, jazz suite.

This triumvirate of talent is gelling so perfectly that I hardly notice the absence of a bass. Truth is, a bass would be superfluous so well integrated are these Three Kings.
The music is close to Free yet it isn't - perhaps controlled Freedom with no abuse of the instruments. No farmyard squawks or duck calls only musical sounds as we know them.
Newcastle is so lucky - these guys should be playing at Ronnie's or Birdland or any jazz club in The World! 
Bop Head is as near to convention as we get, 3/4 Harmonic Minor - Lewis' sound  never better than on this. 
Carried on the Wind - a suggestion of Debussy from Edis with some thunder from Walker and lightning from Watson. Funk and Clunk - overtones of Detroit - then the lovely Calm and Calamity.
Like the Transit of Venus crossing the sun, Watson floats easily, his vision unclouded and we are on edge awaiting the calamity. It happens! Lewis, Edis and Walker are in full flight! Reaching striving, achieving! If this is calamity bring on the Eve of Destruction because "Calamity" now means Glorious Salvation!
Three, Four, Seven Four, Five Four a mix of time signatures before, all too soon, we come to the movement entitled The End.
This was an unbelievable experience that ranks way up there with any gig in recent years.
Lance.
Oh yes, in case you hadn't guessed - these were all compositions written by the performers. Edis (5), Watson (3), Walker (1). 

2 comments :

Roly said...

You're right Lance. How fortunate we are to have such wonderful players here on our doorstep. Brilliant, different, top drawer. Festival organisers take note.
Roly

Russell said...

Do you think Statler and Waldorf in the front row enjoyed it? - see photograph.

Russell

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