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Bebop Spoken There

Kurt Elling: ''There's something to learn from every musician you play with''. (DownBeat, December 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

17630 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 904 of them this year alone and, so far, 49 this month (Dec. 20).

From This Moment On ...

December

Sun 22: Hot Club du Nord @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £15.00. + bf. Xmas party. SOLD OUT!
Sun 22: Red Kites Jazz @ Gibside Chapel, nr. Rowlands Gill. 1:00pm. Admission charge applies.
Sun 22: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 22: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: Revolutionaires @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Superb rhythm & blues outfit.
Sun 22: Laurence Harrison, Paul Grainger & Mark Robertson @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Line-up TBC.
Sun 22: The Globe Xmas Party @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Live music (musicians TBC).
Sun 22: Ray Stubbs R & B All-Stars @ Zerox, Sandhill, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors).

Mon 23: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Wheatsheaf, Benton Sq., Whitley Road, Palmersville NE12 9SU. Tel: 0191 266 8137. 1:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Mon 23: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 4:00pm. Free.
Mon 23: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Mon 23: Milne-Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.

Tue 24: Lindsay Hannon & Mark Williams @ Ernest, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 11:00am-1:00pm. Free.
Tue 24: Paul Skerritt @ Mambo Wine & Dine, South Shields. 1:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.

Wed 25: Wot? No jazz!

Thu 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free. TBC.
Thu 26: The Boneshakers @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. The 17th annual Boneshakers’ Shindig.

Fri 27: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free. Business as usual!.
Fri 27: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 27: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

Sat 28: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 11:30am. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 28: Fri 20: Castillo Nuevo @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Sat 28: Jude Murphy, Rich Herdman & Giles Strong @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 28: Ray Stubbs R & B All-Stars @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Stepney Bank, Newcastle. 9:00pm. Free.

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

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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