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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

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Traveller's Rest, Cockerton. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public). Note change of venue - this week only.
Wed 22: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:00pm.
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thu 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 4:00-6:00pm. Free.
Thu 23: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Bar Loco, Newcasatle. From 6:30pm 'til late. Free. Newcastle University Jazz Orchestra jam session. All welcome (students & non-students).
Thu 23: Kerrin Tatman + John Garner & John Pope @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Thu 23: Sunna Gunnlaugs & Julia Hülsmann @ Sage Gateshead. 8:00pm. A two-piano gig. A Sage Gateshead-JNE promotion.
Thu 23: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Ragtime piano.
Thu 23: Sleep Suppressor @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £10.00., £8.00. adv. Upstairs.
Thu 23: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.
Fri 24: FILM: Mo' Better Blues @ Forum Cinema, Hexham. 7:00pm.
Fri 24: Ian Millar & Dominic Spencer @ Scarth Hall, Staindrop, Co. Durham. 8:00pm. £10.00.
Fri 24: Archipelago + Bulbils @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.

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.
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).

Sunday, September 16, 2012

CD Review: Present Day The Original Unit

Stefan Walcott  (piano & keyboards), Neil Newton (double bass & electric bass) & David Carnegie (drums) 
(Review by Russell).
A jazz trio from Barbados. I can’t claim familiarity with the jazz scene on the island of Barbados but I do know the work of drummer David Carnegie. A few years ago on City Road in Newcastle, Dave Weisser’s Take it to the Bridge session was in full swing at the now demolished Egypt Cottage public house when in walked David Carnegie. He sat in. After a couple of bars I looked across the room to Weisser…a smile, a nod. Another great musician had announced his arrival on Tyneside (I guess this sort of occasion makes it all worth while for Weisser). Gig goers came to know David as a gentle, humble man who made a considerable impact on the music scene during his time in England
Circumstances decreed that he return to his homeland of Barbados

DC has been busy. One project has been the recording of a new CD. 
Present Day is a ten track recording by the Original Unit (described in the liner notes as a ‘Barbadian jazz trio’). All three musicians have contributed tunes to the CD; two from pianist Stefan Walcott, one from bassist Neil Newton and four from Carnegie. The mid-tempo opener – Sunshine Roxy – comes from the pen of Walcott and is described as a ‘calypso jazz work’ with excellent piano from the composer, a warm tone from Neil Newton on double bass and Carnegie typically contributes subtle light and shade. Present Day (Carnegie) was inspired by the composer meeting and hearing Gwilym Simcock in the UK (David – the brilliant Simcock performs at the Sage in October!). Post Modern Revisionist Soul (Carnegie acknowledges the somewhat pretentious title!) is, to quote the composer a ‘(much loved) neo-soul jam’. 
Repeated listenings have made this a much loved track for this reviewer. Taken at walking pace, Walcott develops the melody, electric bass and drums get into the laid-back groove bringing to mind the best of the Jazz Crusaders. Voice in My Head (comp.E.Yearwood), one of two tunes not written by the trio, is most lyrical, as are other tracks, suggesting words could well be written for some pieces. The other non-original piece is Monk’s Well You Needn’t (most recently heard live by this reviewer at Weisser’s night at the Chillingham with drummer Paul Wight swinging it mightily) featuring superb playing from all three musicians – effortless swing from Walcott, spot-on double bass playing from Newton and Carnegie’s work recalls his many great performances in the north east of England. Is there a reference to Tito Puente in there? A hint of Oye Como Va perhaps. Walcott’s Kensington New Road is intended to sonically portray the Muslim Asian community in Bridgetown. In the future the composer hopes to incorporate the tune into a Bridgetown Suite to celebrate the ancient city. The pianist’s playing is certainly most impassioned on this track. Newton’s Sounds Like a Love Song to Me sounds like a classic jazz ballad according to the composer. It is exactly that. Carnegie’s Post Modern Revisionist Soul (Reimagined) features dazzling piano, a great bass line and crisp percussion throughout. Bassist Newton’s Untied closes the set with Walcott’s piano drawing on twentieth century classical music; tentative, explorative sketches underpinned by the distant pulse of Newton’s electric bass.
 Present Day was recorded at Canefield Studio, Barbados on February 23, 2012. The Original Unit on tour in the UK sounds good to me. Let’s hope it happens. 
Check out www.originalunit.com (ready soon).
Russell                           

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