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Bebop Spoken There

JD Allen: "...art in itself is now a luxury that you need a lot of finances to do." - (DownBeat October 2021)

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! --

Postage

13,806 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 13 years ago. 1223 of them this year alone and, so far, 50 this month (Oct. 13).

From This Moment On ...

October

Sun 17: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Spanish City, Whitley Bay. 12 noon.
Sun 17: Musicians Unlimited @ South Durham Social Club. 1:00pm.
Sun 17: Shunyata Improvisation Group @ Unitarian Church, Newcastle. 1:30pm.
Sun 17: Vula Viel @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 18: Jazz in the Afternoon @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.

Wed 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 20: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 20: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.
Wed 20: Jeremy McMurray & the Jazz Pocket Orchestra @ Middlesbrough Town Hall. 8:00pm.

Thu 21: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, North Tyneside. 1:00pm.
Thu 21: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Bar Loco, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Newcastle University Jazz Orchestra.
Thu 21: Alter Ego @ St James' & St Basil's Church, Newcastle 7:30pm.
Thu 21: Maine Street Jazzmen @ Sunniside Social Club, Gateshead. 8:30pm.
Thu 21: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Fri 22: Mick Shoulder Quartet @ Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Quartet featuring Alex Clarke (BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year finalist).
Fri 22: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 22: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm.
Fri 22: Paul Edis Trio w Ruth Lambert @ St Cuthbert's Centre, Crook. 7:30pm.
Fri 22: Michael Feinstein @ Sage Gateshead. 8:00pm.
Fri 22: Peter Morgan Trio @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Sat 23: Mary Coughlan @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sat 23: Têtes de Pois @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Sun 24 Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Spanish City, Whitley Bay. 12 noon.
Sun 24: Musicians Unlimited @ South Durham Social Club, Hartlepool. 1:00pm.
Sun 24: Voices of Virtue Gospel Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 4:00pm.
Sun 24: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Monday, August 06, 2012

Beneath The Underdog

I have just finished reading Charles Mingus “Beneath the Underdog”  and thought that it was a brilliant insight into the mind of a brilliant man. What does anybody else think ? I would be interested to hear opinions/criticisms etc.
Steve Owen.
at

4 comments :

Lance said...

Steve, I've owned the book for years and never yet made it to the finish. I couldn't understand how an autobiography could have a written comment at the beginning saying that some of the characters and incidents are fictitious. Also the predilection with sex and race I felt was written to shock and sell. However, having the greatest admiration for the man's music and respecting your opinion I will try it again and see if, 40 years on, my judgement has matured, mellowed or become more worldly-wise!

Monday, August 06, 2012 7:17:00 pm
Steve Owen said...

Thanks Lance,
Look forward to your comments

Steve

Tuesday, August 14, 2012 12:26:00 pm
Lance said...

Well Steve, I made it to the end this time and, perhaps, after looking at it with a more jaded, blasé, streetwise mind, I was able to perhaps cope with it more or less objectively.
I delved into Brian Priestley's biography whilst reading the autobiog and it was interesting to note that Mingus' long time drummer, Danny Richmond observes that, "A lot of Mingus' writing was fantasy."
Accepting this makes it more readable but doesn't make up for the lack of musical insight into the creation of some of the greatest jazz compositions and performances either side of Ellington and Gil Evans.
If only he'd just tantalised us with snippets of his gargantuan sexual appetites instead of giving us "the whole nine yards" (well perhaps not quite that much)
Art Pepper and Anita O'Day's books were controversial but at least they managed to balance the sex and the drugs with the music. Charles didn't.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012 9:45:00 pm
Steve said...

Hi Lance.
Totally agree with your comments here and also with the reference to the Art Pepper book.
Still you have to admit it was a bloody good read.

Thursday, September 13, 2012 12:41:00 pm

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