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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

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).

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.

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Watson Walker Edis @ The Cluny. October 30

Lewis Watson (tenor saxophone), Rob Walker (drums) & Paul Edis (keyboards)
(Review by Russell).
 Cluny 2, the Cluny’s additional space deep in the bowels of the earth, hosted the latest of Schmazz’s regular last Tuesday of the month gigs. 
Watson Walker Edis have kept a low profile since their début performance at the Jazzathon fund raiser some fifteen months ago at the Lit and Phil. Indeed their only other outing was at the library in June of this year. They were two memorable performances and the Cluny date promised much. 
There was a good turn out at Cluny 2 (some prefer the smaller intimate space). 
Tenor saxophonist Lewis Watson informed the crowd that the first set would consist of a suite (the music heard at the Lit and Phil) lasting about forty five minutes. Those who heard those earlier performances knew they were in for something special! A series of compositions written by members of the trio (some co-written) ranged from ballad form to fearsome post Bop sections to stunning explorations of Coltrane and Ayler. 
During the interval many of those hearing the music for the first time said how impressed they were. 
The second set premièred new material. 
Watson’s articulation on tenor, in whichever register, reaffirmed his position at the top table and pianist Paul Edis’ left hand more than compensated for the absence of a bass player. Rob Walker, a listening, sight-reading drummer, contributed effectively throughout. An indication of just how good Watson Walker Edis are as a unit is the thought that a dep being drafted in simply wouldn't work. The next time they play a gig make sure you are there – you won’t regret it.
Russell

3 comments :

Anonymous said...

As good as Paul is, a great bass player is the primary element required to outline and underpin harmonic structure. No? Listen to some of Bill Evans or Oscar Peterson for example, and hear the difference when the bassist cuts in. A full aural spectrum is much preferred, although the only element that could be left out of an ensemble may be the drummer/percussionist if a famous jazz musician is to be believed - he quipped "it takes a helluva drummer to be better than no drummer at all" You never see a full orchestra without a bass player, but percussionists are at times, very conspicuous by their absence and or sparsity. Just my opinion of course.

Lance said...

Not quite sure where you're coming from here 'Nony'. A bass player does add depth to a combo but, in the absence of one - whether by necessity or choice, a two-handed pianist can do the job. The fact that this is the third gig these guys have done tells me that they are happy with the set-up. As one who knows Lewis Watson's very firm opinions (and Paul's) if they'd wanted a bass player they would have got one!

Anonymous said...

I was there. I enjoyed it, but a bass player was a BIG miss. As I said in my post - just my opinion.

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