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Bebop Spoken There

Abbie Finn: "Even though there's a lot of great work being done to promote women in jazz, I still come up against some attitudes! I pulled up at a recording session with my drums in the car and the studio owner said, 'I'm sorry, this space is reserved for the drummer!'" - (Jazzwise 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

15229 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 248 of them this year alone and, so far, 61 this month (March 20).

From This Moment On ...

March

Sat 25: Vermont Big Band @ Walker Community Centre, Walker, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Fundraiser for Benfield Juniours Football Club. Hot food available, BYOB.
Sat 25: John Logan & Friends @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Rat Pack, Motown etc. 8:00pm. Free (donations).

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited @ Park Inn, Hartlepool. 1:00pm.
Sun 26: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 3:00pm.
Mar 26: Pop Jazz @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. 'Jazzified' tunes by the likes of Sylvester, Bowie, the Monkees etc., feat. Alan Law, David Gray, Richard Herdman & Jude Murphy.
Sun 26: Outlines @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. JNE promotion (upstairs).

Mon 27: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.

Tue 28: Paul Skerritt @ The Rabbit Hole, Hallgarth St., Durham DH1 3AT. 7:00pm. Paul Skerritt's (solo) weekly residency.
Tue 28: Sanaz Lavasani Trio @ Black Swan, Newcastle Arts Centre. 8:00pm. £12.00 (£10.00. adv).

Wed 29: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 29: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 29: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:00pm.
Wed 29: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thu 30: Gateshead Jazz Appreciation Society @ Gateshead Central Library. 2:30-4:30pm. £2.00. All welcome.
Thu 30: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. Back to 1:00pm stomp off. Free.
Thu 30: '58 Jazz Collective @ Hops & Cheese, Hartlepool. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 30: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Harbour View, Sunderland. 8:00pm.
Thu 30: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Fri 31: Lewis Watson Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Town Hall. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 31: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 31: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 31: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm. CANCELLED! Back next week (April 7).
Fri 31: Jasmine Myra + Waclaw Zimpel @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Fri 31: The Revolutionaires @ The Shack, Boldon Colliery. 7:30pm. £10.00. The Revolutionaires' big band (horn section) line-up.
Fri 31: Andrew McCormack @ Maltings, Berwick. 8:00pm. £20.00.

Saturday, August 25, 2012

James Birkett & Bradley Johnston @ The Sage Gateshead. Friday August 24

James Birkett & Bradley Johnston (gtrs)
(Review by Russell).
The Sage’s Friday evenings have drawn large numbers to The Concourse. The keen jazz fan and the casual diner have for the most part happily co-existed in an informal, relaxed setting looking out across the Tyne to Newcastle.
In recent weeks the jazz vocalist, the swinging small combo, New Orleans veterans and promising student musicians have offered something for everyone. This week’s session featured jazz guitar. Master musician James Birkett and student protégé Bradley Johnston  delighted an attentive audience with a select set list referencing many of the greats of jazz guitar (and some of the great composers) from the 1920s through to the present day. Biréli Lagrêne, Luiz Bonfa, Lonnie Johnson, Eddie Lang, Django Reinhardt, Dick McDonough, Carl Kress, Pat Metheny…an impressive list of guitar greats. Gentle Rain, Uma Prece, Oleo, In Your Own Sweet Way, Always and Forever, Skating in Central Park, Nuages, Farmer’s Trust, Wave, Chicken a la Swing, Perfect and Spain…numbers made for two great guitarists.
Birkett has been there, done that and he’s got the t-shirt to prove it. The Sage is familiar territory to Dr Birkett, home ground as it were, holding no fears. So what of Bradley Johnston? Performing in front of an expectant crowd would, no doubt, set the pulse racing of many a seasoned pro. Johnston the student showed few signs of nerves let alone stage fright. Technique, tone, volume, time, taste – he’s got it all (Birkett ain’t too shabby either!).
Many north east readers will recall memorable concert appearances on Tyneside from the likes of Barney Kessel, Joe Pass, Tal Farlow, Herb Ellis and a young Biréli Lagrène. Birkett and Johnston stirred memories and evoked the spirit of these great players. Highlights were many; Johnston excelling on Metheny’s Farmer’s Trust, the duo on John Lewis’ beautiful waltz Skating in Central Park and Chick Corea’s test piece Spain. James Birkett works occasionally with fellow guitarist and academic colleague Rod Sinclair in a guitar duo. Their Suite for Two Guitars  is a challenging work. Birkett and Johnston played the last part of the opus. Johnston did Sinclair proud (watch out Rod!). The student guitarist has added another string to his bow (guitar?) – that of composer. The Sage audience heard the world premiere of James’ Waltz. The future is bright for Bradley Johnston, no doubt about it. I’m sure James Birkett will follow Johnston’s developing career with no little pride and I’d wager a bet that in a few short years Sage patrons will take their seats in one of the main halls to hear the headline act…one Bradley Johnston. Next week - Friday 31st – sees the last in the summer season of Concourse gigs. The Henchmen Jazz Sextet will be there to entertain you from 8.00 pm.
Russell                             

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