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Bebop Spoken There

Phillip Lutz: ''That [sight-reading], in turn, led to session work that was well-paying but unsatisfying and, after 18 months, he [John McLaughlin] unceremoniously quit. But he fortuitously hooked up with a couple of fellow northerners, organist Mike Carr and drummer Jackie Denton. They provided entrée to London's premier jazz club, Ronnie Scott's, periodically playing opening sets''. (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

17586 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 860 of them this year alone and, so far, 5 this month (Dec. 2).

From This Moment On ...

December

Mon 09: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 09: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Wheatsheaf, Benton Sq., Whitley Road, Palmersville NE12 9SU. Tel: 0191 266 8137. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 09: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30-8:30pm. Free.
Mon 09: Trio Grand @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free.
Mon 09: James Birkett Trio @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 10: Customs House Big Band @ All Saints Church Hall, Cleadon. 7:30pm. £6.00. The CHBB’s annual Xmas concert featuring Ruth Lambert. A BYOB gig!

Wed 11: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Cath Stephens’ improvisation workshop @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 4:30-6:00pm. Collaborative group focusing on vocal improvisations.
Wed 11: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 11: The Tannery Jam Session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Second Wednesday in the month.
Wed 11: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 12: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Spanish City, Whitley Bay. 12 noon. £27.00. (inc. three -course meal).
Thu 12: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:00-6:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Thu 12: Stuart Turner @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 12: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesborough. 8:30pm. Free. Guests: Jeremy McMurray (keys); Mark Toomey (alto sax); Donna Hewitt (tenor sax); Kevin Eland (trumpet); Ron Smith (bass).

Fri 13: Dean Stockdale Trio @ Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 13: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Bellavana @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 3:00-5:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Joe Steels Trio @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Customs House Big Band @ Stocksfield Community Association. 7:00pm. Featuring Ruth Lambert.
Fri 13: Paul Edis & Friends: A Jazzy Xmas @ St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook. 7:30pm. £15.00.
Fri 13: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £19.00. + bf. First night of two.
Fri 13: Ransom Van @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 13: Boys of Brass @ Hoochie Coochie, Newcastle. 9:00pm. £10.00.

Sat 14: Jambone @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:15pm. Free but ticketed.
Sat 14: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm.
Sat 14: Red Kites Jazz @ Staiths Café, Autumn Dr., Gateshead. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 14 Lapwing Jazz Trio @ Three Sheets to the Wind, Alnwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 14: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £19.00. + bf. Second night of two.
Sat 14: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 15: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 12 noon. £8.50. Xmas party feat. Musicians Unlimited + Customs House Big Band. SOLD OUT!
Sun 15: Paul Edis & Friends: A Jazzy Xmas @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 2:00pm.
Sun 15: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Mitch Laddie Band @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Superb blues power trio.
Sun 15: Leeway @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 15: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Paul Edis & Friends: A Jazzy Xmas @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.
Sun 15: Alligator Gumbo @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

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

Monday, March 11, 2013

Eyes Shut Tight @ The Bridge Hotel. March 10, 2013

Paul Baxter (double bass), Johnny Tomlinson (keyboards) & Kristoffer Wright (drums)
(Review by Russell.)
Sunday night at the Bridge. One thing was for certain - it would be snowing. It was. Another thing - there was a predictably small audience. Where would you rather be - in front of a television watching Countryfile: a Royal Appointment or perhaps Top Gear (I've just checked) or sitting with a tip-top pint in one of Newcastle’s very best pubs listening to some first rate jazz? No contest, surely?
This week’s Splinter session presented Eyes Shut Tight, a trio led by bassist Paul Baxter. The tall, relaxed  Yorkshireman has played Splinter on more than one occasion over the last year or two and this latest visit saw him in the company of Johnny Tomlinson (keyboards) and drummer Kristoffer Wright - collectively EST, sorry, Eyes Shut Tight. The temptation to draw a parallel with EST is all too easy and it is true to say that there are similarities - taut, repetitive motifs and a focus on keyboard improvisations.
Bassist Paul Baxter is the trio’s principal composer and one of his tunes - A Touch of the Charlies - referenced two double bass players (Charlie Haden and Charles Mingus) suggesting a feature for the composer. Not so. Baxter writes for the group with drummer Kristoffer Wright and Johnny Tomlinson contributing in equal measure to the group sound. Hit and Hope and Precipice couldn't restrain Tomlinson and his formidable technique shone through.
The trio arrived in Newcastle mid-tour with new tunes to play from their new CD Resonance. The title track and a ballad - T and C (comp. Wright) - owed something to the gospel sound redolent in the music of, say, Junior Mance or Dr.Billy Taylor and the gig concluded with Mr C. There is another chance to hear these tunes and more next month (April 6) when Eyes Shut Tight visit the Sage during the Gateshead International Jazz Festival. Next week’s Splinter session features the excellent King Bee.                        
Russell.         

5 comments :

Brian Bennett said...

Can we keep blaming the weather for small audiences, Russell?
Just a short walk from The Bridge, Live Theatre was 'packed to the gunwales'. Same snow and bitterly cold weather, but an event which was sold out in spite of having no director, no set and an actor (Kevin Whately) who hadn't even seen the script.

Dave Parker (on Facebook) said...

I've commented before that the venue for Splinter @ The Bridge excludes people with mobility difficulties, some of whom, I know, would like to attend.

Dave Parker (on Facebook) said...

Also by hiding emerging jazz musician away in an upstairs room that you have to pay to enter you are only ever going to attract people who are 'in the know'.

Lance said...

I'm not sure if the musicians who play at the Bridge, Dave, are emerging. Most have well and truly emerged. Paul Baxter, for example, has led various bands at Festivals - including a big band at Scarborough last year. As regards to being "In The Know" I think Bebop Spoken Here, Paul Bream's Jazz Alert, The Informer, The JNE fliers, the Splinter page on Facebook ensure that those interested are indeed "In the know".
I do agree with you re mobility difficulties but also appreciate the difficulties the organisers face in finding suitable venues for jazz.
As regards having to pay, well, in the absence of suitable funding, how else are the musicians going to be paid?

Brian said...

Lance has hit the nail on the head when he says the main problem for organisers is finding a 'suitable' venue for jazz. Of the many pubs, social clubs, community centres, church halls, etc. in and around Newcastle only a small number would be suitable as a jazz venue. Support and encouragement by proprietors is essential, too.
The criteria is obvious but not always easy to find:
1. LOCATION - nearby Metro station; regular bus service, etc.
2. ACCESS - downstairs good, upstairs bad (unless there's a lift)
3. CAR PARKING - secure, free and adjacent to the venue
Recently at The Millstone, the VCJ switched from the upstairs function room to the downstairs bar lounge, at the same time moving the session from evening to afternoon. We're now playing to a full house with customers arriving before midday for seats. Food and beer sales have soared - much to the delight of the pub management.

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