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Bebop Spoken There

Spasmo Brown: “Jazz is an ice cream sandwich! It's the Fourth of July! It's a girl with a waterbed!”. (Syncopated Times, July, 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

17458 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 732 of them this year alone and, so far, 37 this month (Oct. 16).

From This Moment On ...

October

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 23: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 23: Daniel John Martin w. Swing Manouche @ The Old Library, Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland. 6:30pm. £12.00. (at the door, no advance sales).
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 24: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 24: John Garner & Tobias Sarra @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 24: Gateshead Jazz Appreciation Society @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. ‘Desert Island Discs’.
Thu 24: Daniel John Martin w. Swing Manouche @ Holy GrAle, Durham. 7:00pm. Free (donations). Thu 24: Jeremy McMurray & the Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm.
Thu 24: Faye MacCalman + John Pope Quintet + Moonfish @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. Donations.
Thu 24: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 24: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesborough. Guests: Kevin Eland (trumpet), Neil Brodie (trumpet), Dave Archbold (keys), Adrian Beadnell (bass), Mark Hawkins (drums). 8:30pm. Free.

Fri 25: Daniel John Martin w. Swing Manouche @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 25: Russ Morgan Quartet @ Gala Theatre, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 25: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 25: The Clare Teal Five @ Gala Theatre, Durham. 7:30pm. £25.00. All-star line-up.
Fri 25: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 26: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 2:30-4:15pm. Free.
Sat 26: Donny McCaslin @ The Engine Room, Tanners’ Bank, North Shields. 3:30pm. £15.00. + bf. McCaslin ‘In Conversation’, focusing on his association with David Bowie. Kevin Armstrong (David Bowie) will read from his biography.
Sat 26: Donny McCaslin Quartet @ The 1856 Exchange, North Shields. 7:00pm. £25.00. + bf. Standing gig with limited seating at the bar. McCaslin with his American quartet in North Shields!
Sat 26: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £3.00. +bf.
Sat 26: Jude Murphy & Dan Stanley @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 27: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 27: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 27: Daniel John Martin w. Swing Manouche @ Queen’s Hall (Library), Hexham. 3:00pm. Sun 27: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free. Rescheduled to Sunday 3rd November.
Sun 27: Paul Skerritt @ The Black Candle, Dean Road, Westoe, South Shields. From 5:30pm. To reserve a table call 07724 234449. ‘Jazz by Candlelight’.
Sun 27: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 27: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn Community Theatre. 7:30pm. £12.00., £10.00.
Sun 27: Daniel John Martin w. Swing Manouche @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 28: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 28: Sue Ferris Quintet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00.

Tue 29: ???

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

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Keith Crombie Dead!


The news that Keith Crombie is dead has totally shocked me and no doubt has also shocked that part of the jazz community associated with "The Caff".
A man who didn't suffer fools gladly, his dedication to the music he loved and the support and encouragement he gave to musicians make him a unique one in a million figure.
This is just so so sad that I can't write any more. The photo by Kaveh Emami sums Keith up perfectly.
The world will be a much duller place from now on.
Rest In Peace.
Lance.
PS: Friends, musicians and anyone associated with Keith are invited to meet up outside of the Jazz Café tomorrow (New Year's Eve) at noon for photos, video and memories.)
A tribute concert is being arranged by Peter Gilligan to take place on Sunday afternoon (2pm) January 6 at the Jazz Café.
Sunday Sun Obituary.
Facebook Photos by Kaveh Emami.
Facebook Memorial Page.

12 comments :

Lou said...

Rest in peace, Keith. You did so much to make swing dancers welcome, and keep Jazz alive.
Your sense of humour and kindness will be greatly missed.
Lou
Swing Dancer
x

Anonymous said...

Shocking news. Keith Crombie was a gruff but absolutely lovable character who struggled on for years and years keeping his beloved Jazz Cafe going, trailing the streets with flyers, etc.
He provided a totally unique venue, a great place for jazz musicians to play and hang out.
He and his Jazz Cafe are already Tyneside jazz legend. The anecdotes would make a very good book!
Very sad.
Roly

Jake said...

The Jazz Café is possibly the last real life personification of all the fictional jazz venues. At first, all that was missing was the smoke - now it's Keith...
Jake.

John Pope (On Facebook). said...

For as long as I've been playing jazz in Newcastle I have played it at the Jazz Cafe on Pink Lane. It's a dingy, cluttered, tiny space, the absolute archetype of the term 'Jazz Club'. It has been the site of much learning, listening, hard work, laughter, frustration and joy, all for the love of music and those who make it. It's importance in my development - not to mention that of the scores of other musicians who performed there regularly - cannot be overstated. None of that could have happened without Keith Crombie and his insurmountable dedication to keeping the place alive, to give the people of this city a place to see the music he cared about be played. Tonight we honoured his memory with that music. I feel humbled and grateful to have been a part of it. He will be sorely missed.

RIP Keith Crombie.

SJB said...

Wouldn't the best memorial be for someone to keep it going?
RIP

Anonymous said...

I think it was 1993 when I first met Keith. It was my first time at the Jazz Cafe on a mid-week night and I was being inquisitive about the set-up of the Jazz Cafe. All of a sudden he turned in his likeable abrupt character and said "You ask a lot of F*%$ing questions dont you, are you a copper?" Since then we have been great friends and myself and others have had some very memorable nights there. Keith you will be sadly missed and I sincerely hope that one of your family or colleagues continue to run the Jazz Cafe in the way that we all like it....
R.I.P.
Nick

Anonymous said...

I first met Keith in the 70's when he used to frequent Julie's nightclub. He was often gruff but always likeable and over the years I got used to seeing him around the town (usually in the vicinity of the universities) handing out his flyers for the Cafe. Keith was an absolute legend and one of the last of the great Nort-East characters. He was a bugger for who he would allow through the door (depending on his mood haha) altho if you had a student union card you were generally ok. Heaven has a new guard on the door today. Rest in Peace, Keith, you were truly one of a kind x

Lloyd said...

Keith could certainly do mood swings. I recall his apparent fury with me when we were both trying to use the same pub wall to publicise our gigs, and then one minute later, once I had convinced him that no clash was meant, he was enthusiastically sharing his love of the film 'Bullshot'. His love of jazz was clear to all: it was the simple explanation for the Jazz Cafe - a characterful individual venue that was loved perhaps at least as much for its faults as its virtues. Long may it survive. It surprised and pleased me over the years that the many students of the Newcastle Swing Dance Society all seemed to see through his grumpiness quickly and liked him.

Lloyd said...

Well said.

James Fields said...

As long as they dont change a thing. Leave all dvds and books in there (and his tv). and dont paint the place. it is absolutely perfect as it is. Bless ya Keith, I will miss you terribly. James

Anonymous said...

i met keith when i moved to newcastle in the early 90's, on my first visit to the jazz cafe i asked for a job and worked there throughout my 20's-what a job! I turned up soon after i begun working there at 10 in the morning, distraught after seeing my then boyfriend off on a long train to china (literally). Keith gave me two shots of whiskey and then got me in the kitchen washing the grease off the walls as i cried myself to normality. He was a big softie...a big heart. the end of an era. the cafe without keith...i just can't imagine it.

Frank Black said...

RIP, Keith

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