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Bebop Spoken There

Ambrose Akinmusire: “ I am certainly always aware of what the masses are doing. And when I see too many people going one way, I'm going another way - even when I don't know what's over that way". DownBeat, March, 2024.

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...

Josh Weir: I love the writing on bebop spoken here... I think the work you are doing is amazing.

Postage

16287 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 169 of them this year alone and, so far, 41 this month (Mar 18).

From This Moment On ...

March

Tue 19: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Tim Johnston.

Wed 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 20: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 20: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 21: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 21: Castillo Neuvo Trio + Conor Emery & His ‘Bones Band @ The Grove, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £10.00. (£7.00. student).
Thu 21: Remi Banklyn + Chris Corcoran Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.50. Chicago blues. An International Guitar Foundation promotion.
Thu 21: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Ragtime piano.
Thu 21: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 22: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 22: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 22: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 22: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 22: Nauta + Remy CB + Last Orders @ Hoochie Coochie, Newcastle. 8:30pm (7:30pm doors). Free.
Fri 22: Vasilis Xenopoulos-Paul Edis Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £15.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 22: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 23: Jambone @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Free (ticketed). End of term performance in the Northern Rock Foundation Hall.
Sat 23: Milne-Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 23: Red Kites Jazz @ Rowlands Gill Community Centre NE39 1JB. 7:00pm. Tickets: £12.00. (gibsidecommunityfarm@gmail.com). A ‘Build a Barn’ fundraiser. BYOB, tea/coffee available.
Sat 23: New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00. + bf (book in person at venue - no booking fee!). Featuring pianist Martin Litton.
Sat 23: Pete Tanton’s Cuba Libre @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 24: Musicians Unlimited @ Park Inn, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 24: Luis Verde @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. Verde (alto sax); Joe Steels (guitar); John Pope (double bass); John Hirst (drums). Alto sax brilliance!
Sun 24: Elsie Franklin @ The Globe, Newcastle. 3:00pm. £10.00. Country blues. An International Guitar Foundation promotion.
Sun 24: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay Metro Station. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: Las Vegas Live with the Rat Pack @ The Forum, Billingham.
Sun 24: Ian Millar & Dominic Spencer @ Otterburn Memorial Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Sun 24: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Note start time - 7:00pm.
Sun 24: Bold Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 25: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Monday, November 12, 2012

CD Review: Masha Campagne Like Water, Like Air


Masha Campagne (vocals); Guinga (acoustic guitar, spoken word); Hendrik Meurkens (vibes, harmonica); Weber Iago (piano, fender rhodes); Harvey Wainapel (bass clarinet, alto sax); Jeff Buenz (electric guitar, nylon string guitar); Dan Robbins acoustic and electric bass); Jason Lewis (drums); Michael Spiro (percussion); Guello (percussion).
(Review by Ann Alex).
I have a confession.  I was tempted to review this CD without listening to it!  I could maybe have got away with such a trick, because there are copious notes enclosed, including all the song lyrics, descriptions of how each song is performed in jazz-like language, and seven photos of the singer, one of poster size.  The only item missing was a photo of the instrumentalists, which I’d have liked.
I'm so glad I did listen to it, as it’s a happy, flowing collection of Latin-influenced jazz, sung well, with every word crystal clear, both in English and Spanish/Portuguese songs.  Not bad for a singer who was born in Moscow!  The lady is also a trained musician who studied piano and cello, and she has sung at the Monterey Jazz Festival.
So readers will understand if I quote from the notes.  It Could Happen To You starts us off with ‘infectiously groovy’ piano hooks and the singer’s tasteful phrasing and vocalise which is never overdone. Jobim’s Outra Vez gives us the bossa nova and solos from guitar and harmonica (yes, I did say harmonica), a small instrument with a big contribution to make.  There are four original numbers, including Campagne’s Broke But Rich, and this woman is no mean lyricist, for example:
Bake your bread, make your tea
Without a crave, without care
Be broke but rich at heart and free
Se E Tarde Me Perdoa has ‘lively syncopations from percussionist Michael Spiro matching Campagne’s effortless sense of timing’ and ‘solid altoism’ from the sax.  I was intrigued by the song Mystery Unwrapped as it could be about a one night stand, or a visit from a guardian angel.  Meukens ‘swaps comb for mallets’, which adds a fluid touch to the vibes.  My Heart Was Lost And Found For You is sung ‘with a smile in her voice’.
It seems to me that Latin jazz has a different quality from the more usual standards, which shows on this CD.  It’s jazz in the sunshine, even when it’s a sad song, and it is more likely to refer to birds, nature, and the sea.  Enjoy!
The CD was released recently on the Impetus Records Inc label.
Ann Alex      

1 comment :

Masha Campagne said...

Dear Ann, thank you for your amazing review! I'm happy you ventured into listening to my CD and made deep observations about lyrics and overall wistfully but happy quality of it! That was, indeed, my intention as an artist! All the best!

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