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Bebop Spoken There

Raymond Chandler: “ I was walking the floor and listening to Khatchaturian working in a tractor factory. He called it a violin concerto. I called it a loose fan belt and the hell with it ". The Long Goodbye, Penguin 1959.

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

16350 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 230 of them this year alone and, so far, 27 this month (April 11).

From This Moment On ...

April

Sat 20: Record Store Day…at a store near you!
Sat 20: Bright Street Band @ Washington Arts Centre. 6:30pm. Swing dance taster session (6:30pm) followed by Bright Street Big Band (7:30pm). £12.00.
Sat 20: Michael Woods @ Victoria Tunnel, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Acoustic blues.
Sat 20: Rendezvous Jazz @ St Andrew’s Church, Monkseaton. 7:30pm. £10.00. (inc. a drink on arrival).

Sun 21: Jamie Toms Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 21: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay Metro Station. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Holy Grale, Durham. 5:00pm.
Sun 21: The Jazz Defenders @ Cluny 2. Doors 6:00pm. £15.00.
Sun 21: Edgar Rubenis @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Blues & ragtime guitar.
Sun 21: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Art Themen with the Dean Stockdale Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £10.00. +bf. JNE. SOLD OUT!

Mon 22: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 23: Vieux Carre Hot 4 @ Victoria & Albert Inn, Seaton Delaval. 12:30-3:30pm. £12.00. ‘St George’s Day Afternoon Tea’. Gig with ‘Lashings of Victoria Sponge Cake, along with sandwiches & scones’.
Tue 23: Jalen Ngonda @ Newcastle University Students’ Union. POSTPONED!

Wed 24: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 24: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 24: Sinatra: Raw @ Darlington Hippodrome. 7:30pm. Richard Shelton.
Wed 24: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 24: Death Trap @ Theatre Royal, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Rambert Dance Co. Two pieces inc. Goat (inspired by the music of Nina Simone) with on-stage musicians.

Thu 25: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 25: Jim Jams @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Jim Jams’ funk collective.
Thu 25: Gateshead Jazz Appreciation Society @ Gateshead Central Library, Gateshead. 2:30pm.
Thu 25: Death Trap @ Theatre Royal, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Rambert Dance Co. Two pieces inc. Goat (inspired by the music of Nina Simone) with on-stage musicians.
Thu 25: Jeremy McMurray & the Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm.
Thu 25: Kate O’Neill, Alan Law & Paul Grainger @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 25: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Guests: Richie Emmerson (tenor sax); Neil Brodie (trumpet); Adrian Beadnell (bass); Garry Hadfield (keys).

Fri 26: Graham Hardy Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 26: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 26: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 26: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 26: Paul Skerritt with the Danny Miller Big Band @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.
Fri 26: Abbie Finn’s Finntet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.

Saturday, April 20, 2013

CD Review: Busk ACV

Andy Champion (double bass), Graeme Wilson (tenor & baritone saxophones), Paul Edis (keyboards), Mark Williams (guitar) & Adrian Tilbrook (drums)
(Review by Russell)
Andy Champion’s ACV is a mighty powerful unit. In concert the listener experiences the quintet’s vital energy. Busk, the band’s new CD, reveals Champion’s widening palette as composer. Eight tunes (seven written by Champion, one from the pen of Graeme Wilson) share common characteristics; distinctive melody, restraint, considered solo contributions and the melding of dark material and a collective levity.
The opening track - Nutmeg State - introduces several constants on the CD; the single instrument intro from out of the ether (Mark Williams, guitar), cohesive group interplay, sparkling solo flights. Graeme Wilson never wastes a note, exemplified by masterly tenor on Degree Absolute, Champion’s bass lines variously direct, cajole, explore and engine room partner Adrian Tilbrook sounds as good as ever behind the kit - tight, yet light of touch. Wilson’s tune She Said it Ugly does what so many of the tunes on this recording do; single instrument intro (Paul Edis, piano) followed by statement of theme (Champion, Wilson), authoritative solo (Wilson’s tenor), Tilbrook’s in-the-pocket drumming and the collective return to the head.
The band leader has taken the opportunity to include a ballad - Second Season - on this Babel release and it reveals another side to Champion the composer - gentle, reflective (Wilson’s superb breathy solo work), writing to accommodate the first-rate musicians at his disposal. ACV like to have some fun and Giant Mice could be said to be typical Andy Champion. Paul Edis leads off with some electronic wizardry, Champion sets the pulse, Tilbrook goes with it and the dovetailing lines of Wilson (robust baritone) and guitarist Williams are the fruits of a well-honed gigging band.
An indication of a good tune is that it sticks in the mind. So many of the tunes on Busk have this effect. One such is Never Ever (Edis’ haunting hook), another - What’s For Breakfast? - features outstanding playing from all. It works well on this recording and in concert Champion and co invariably tear it up! The closing track - Dust Red - takes it out with assured, beautifully relaxed playing. The title refers to a wonderful aspect of the fragile renaissance of the former steel works’ town of Consett, County Durham (check out Consett Ale Works). The production credits go to Chris Sharkey and studio engineer Adam Sinclair at Blast Recording, Newcastle upon Tyne. The photography is by the talented Robert Laing and the superb cover illustration is by John Say. Busk is set to become an award-winning release of 2013. Busk by ACV is available on the Babel Label, BDV 13117. The official release date is Monday May 13. Place your order now - www.acvband.co.uk or www.babellabel.co.uk .                                                    
Russell.







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