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Bebop Spoken There

Steve Fishwick: “I can’t get behind the attitude that new is always somehow better than old” - Jazz Journal, April 15, 2019,

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...

Postage

16034 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 1041 of them this year alone and, so far, 73 this month (Nov. 27).

From This Moment On ...

December

Sun 03: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:30pm. £7.50.
Sun 03: The Central Bar Quartet @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00. The Central Bar Quartet plays Lou Donaldson’s Gravy Train. Featuring Jamie Toms.
Sun 03: Paul Skerritt @ Smith’s Arms, Carlton, Stockton-on-Tees. 7:00pm.
Sun 03: Johnny Hunter Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 03: Jam session @ The Schooner, Gateshead. 8:00pm. Free.

Mon 04: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Mon 04: Northern Monkey Brass Band @ People’s Kitchen, Bath Lane, Newcastle. From 5:30pm. On-street gig supporting the work of the People’s Kitchen charity. Wrap up warm! Donate!
Mon 04: Michael Young Trio w Lindsay Hannon @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 7:00pm. Free.
Mon 04: James Birkett Trio @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £8.00.
Mon 04: Durham University Jazz Orchestra + Durham University Big Band @ Durham Castle DH1 3RW. 8:30pm. £6.00.; £5.00. concs; £4.00. DSM. ‘Jazzy Christmas’.

Tue 05: Customs House Big Band @ All Saints Church, Cleadon. 7:00pm. Concert in the church hall. BYOB.
Tue 05: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Sid White. The best free show in town!

Wed 06: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 06: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 8:00pm. Free. Note later start time, concert performance (open to the public).
Wed 06: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thu 07: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free CANCELLED!
Thu 07: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Spanish City, Whitley Bay, Newcastle. 12 noon - 4:00pm. £26.00 (inc 3-course meal in in St Mary's Lighthouse Suite). SOLD OUT!
Thu 07: Gateshead Jazz Appreciation Society @ Gateshead Central Library, Gateshead. 2:30pm. All welcome.
Thu 07: Thursday Night Prayer Meeting @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.Donations. Feat. Mark Sanders.
Thu 07: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00. Downstairs.
Thu 07: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Fri 08: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 08: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 08: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.
Fri 08: Hayley's Little Big Band @ Woodland Village Hall, Bishop Auckland. 7:00pm. £12.00.
Fri 08: Sleep Suppressor + Redwell @ Head of Steam, Neville St., Newcastle. 8:00pm. £10.00. (£8.00. adv); £5.00. student.
Fri 08: Hot Club du Nord @ St Cuthbert's Church, Shadforth, Co. Durham.
Fri 08: Têtes de Pois + Nauta @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £8.00.

Sat 09: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Sat 09: Abbie Finn Trio @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm.
Sat 09: Hayley's Little Big Band @ Middleton & Todridge Village Hall, Morpeth. 7:30pm. £12.00., £6.00.
Sat 09: Paul Skerritt @ Slaley Hall, Hexham NE47 0BX. 7:30pm. From £42.00.

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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