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Bebop Spoken There

Art Blakey: "You [Bobby Watson] don't want to play too long, because you don't know they're clapping because they're glad you finished!" - (JazzTimes, Nov. 2019)..

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

15848 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 855 of them this year alone and, so far, 53 this month (Sept. 18).

From This Moment On ...

September

Mon 25: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Mon 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 7:00pm.

Tue 26: Paul Skerritt @ The Rabbit Hole, Hallgarth St., Durham DH1 3AT. 7:00pm. Paul Skerritt's (solo) weekly residency.

Wed 27: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 27: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 27: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thu 28: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 28: Alice Grace Quartet @ King's Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 28: Gateshead Jazz Appreciation Society @ Gateshead Central Library, Gateshead. 2:30pm. All welcome.
Thu 28: Faye MacCalman + Snape/Sankey @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Thu 28: Zoe Rahman @ Jesmond United Reformed Church, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:30pm. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Thu 28: '58 Jazz Collective @ Hops & Cheese, Hartlepool. 7:30pm.
Thu 28: Speakeasy @ Queen's Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm. £15.00. A Southpaw Dance Company presentation. Dance, audio-visuals, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, swing dancers etc.
Thu 28: Mick Cantwell Band @ Harbour View, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Ace blues band.
Thu 28: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Fri 29: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 29: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 29: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.

Sat 30: John Pope Quintet + Late Girl + Shapeshifters @ Bobik's, Jesmond, Newcastle.
Sat 30: Papa G's Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.

OCTOBER

Sun 01: Smokin' Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm.
Sun 01: Dulcie May Moreno sings Portrait of Sheila @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00. Moreno sings Sheila Jordan with Giles Strong, Mick Shoulder & John Bradford.
Sun 01: Middlesbrough Jazz & Blues Orchestra @ Saltburn Community Hall. 2:00pm.
Sun 01: The Easy Rollers @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £13.70., £11.55.
Sun 01: Brand/Roberts/Champion/Sanders @ Blank Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Sun 01: Papa G's Troves @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 02: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Mon 02: FILM: Wattstax; 50th Anniversary @ Forum Cinema, Hexham. 8:00pm.

Friday, March 22, 2013

Don Forbes Safe Sextet/Septet: The Star, Newcastle: March 20

Don Forbes (trumpet); Paul Gowland (alto sax); John Rowland (tenor sax); Alan Laws (piano); Mike Papapavlou (guitar); Paul Grainger (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums)
(Review by Ann Alex).
The latest gig by the co-operative hoping to reopen the Jazz Café. The Sextet became a Septet - perhaps they were no longer taking precautions - with the welcome addition of music student Mike.  Two of Mike’s friends were playing cards in the corner which added to the bebop atmosphere.  To say that the band were great is an understatement.  This is an area of jazz that I know least about, although I am learning. I certainly couldn't sing it, but I know skilled, exciting musicians when I hear them, and I heard them on Wednesday.  Rich, fast notes tumbling over each other, shouting saxes and trumpet, piano and guitar beavering all around, underpinned by a sneaky bass and drums beating impertinently  Really, you just have to hear this, words can’t do the trick.
For instance, the first number started with a steady drumbeat, before Forbes, on trumpet, leads in the band. Extended solos for the two saxes and a guitar solo from Mike followed by a chance for Alan, beating time with his right foot as he plays, to shine. The saxes leave the stage to let the others get on with it, try doing that if you play in the Northern Sinfonia!  This stomping number ends with a wonderfully shrieking dissonant chord from everyone. ‘Aw, you are f-----g awesome’ shouted a man from the audience (pub regular I think).
And so it continued, a lone mean throaty sax, followed by guitar, this time with a harder sound, not the usual warm sound of jazz guitar, bass solo and piano, a crash from the drums, you get the idea I hope.  I’m not familiar with this repertoire, but I’m told the set included Island Birdie; a Horace Silver number Liberated Brother; The Soulful Mr Timmins; and, a beautiful calm slow tune which built to a fine climax, Peace, another Silver number.  The final item of the evening had the piano going stompingly  berserk, I thought Alan was about to go through the roof.  Yes, the band did themselves proud.
Ann Alex

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