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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.

Friday, November 16, 2012

Swing City Quartet @ The Customs House, South Shields

Steve Andrews (ten/clt/whistle); Paul Edis (pno/fl); Roly Veitch (gtr/vcl); Roy Cansdale (bs).
(Review by Lance.)
In the big picture, I suppose I could be excused for referring to this as a low-profile gig although the 60.or so paying customers, myself included might disagree.
I'm not going to go out on a limb and vote it as my gig of the year but, tell you what, it's up there in a photo finish!
I can't begin to tell you - those of you who chickened out of visiting South Shields on a rainy Friday evening -  just what a delightful session this was.
I knew they were playing for keeps when they tuned up before going into Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea.
Steve has acquired a new Conn tenor - 1928 I think he said which is new for him. It had a nice sound but, by the end of the tune he was back on the old faithful pre Adolphe Sax model. He sounded good on both instruments - Steve would sound good on a penny whistle. what am I saying? later on he did just that!
I Wished on the Moon - is there a better tune? and Roly sang it beautifully in that light jazz tenor voice that is so compelling. Compelling because Roly's vocals always convey the impression that he is going to miss the note and you hold your breath.
He never does.
Apart from the vocal and Steve's switch to clarinet the number brought Paul Edis into the forefront. Paul's fill ins behind the vocal were absolutely spot on and his solo reminded me, not of Bill Evans, but John Lewis with MJQ. Just some little chromatic phrases that stuck. And I speak with authority as I've just received 5 MJQ CDs to review! Which reminds me - anyone want to review Mile's last 5 discs?
Back to tonight.
Steve cut loose on clarinet on Struttin' With Some Barbecue moving over to tenor after Paul's solo. When the Mafia hear that Paul Edis has been playing Struttin' With Some Barbecue he'll probably be excommunicated. Moonlight in Vermont was as beautiful as that tune always is before Paul had a solo feature on Tatum's version of Tea for Two - awesome! The set finished off with Nuages and Tangerine.
Let me also mention Steve's patter - tonight it was really good and, if he ever hangs up his saxophones, a career in stand-up awaits - if vaudeville was still around he wouldn't be bottom of the bill.
The tin whistle emerged for a spirited version of All God's Chillun Got Rhythm (if only!).
The show rolled on and I didn't see anyone leave - how could they?
Roly sang The Touch of Your Lips (Paul on flute) and Fine and Dandy was just that!
Paul played Bix's In A Mist. He played it beautifully but, for me, it needed to be quieter, more subtle. This may have been the sound engineer cranking up the volume but I felt it lost the tenderness of the original or, say, Marian McPartland's interpretation. After all it is In a Mist, not Hurricane Sandy
Still, a minor quibble - Paul was brilliant throughout not least in Lester Leaps In when he threw in 8 bars of stride on the release - magic.
Steve superb Hawkins/Webster tenor, Goodmaneseque clarinet.
Roly a tower of strength on rhythm guitar and occasional inspired solos and vocals.
I haven't mentioned him until now but Roy Cansdale was on the money. Soloing only sporadicallyally he, nevertheless, ensured the rhythmic pulse was there and, who cares if there wasn't a drummer - nasty smelly things!
Take a bow guys.
My God I've never wrote a review of this length - it must have been good!
Photos.
Lance.




1 comment :

Jean Hogg said...

I enjoyed your review on Roly Veitch & Co (A damn good read)
I have always found his wistful voice so well matched to the intimate songs he chooses and his guitar style is bliss to my ears. Just bought the CD"Wrap your troubles in dreams"

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