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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

Sat 23: Tyne Valley Big Band @ Tanfield Railway, Gateshead. 2:00-4:00pm. Free. A '1940s Weekend' event.
Sat 23: Jason Isaacs @ Stack, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free.
Sat 23: Andrew Porritt & Keith Barrett @ Cullercoats Watch House, Front St., Cullercoats NE30 4QB. 7:00pm.
Sat 23: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig. Country blues.

Sun 24: Musicians Unlimited @ Park Inn, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.

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.

Sunday, April 21, 2013

CD Review: Chris Greco Quartet - Trane of Thought


Chris Greco (soprano/tenor sax, flute, clarinet); Brad Rabuchin (guitar); Dean Taba (contrabass); Kendall Kay (drums, congas)
(Review by Les)
Before getting into the detail there are a couple of things worth noting at the outset.  Firstly, whilst this CD is a new release (as of March 2013) the recordings were made in 1994.  Secondly, the use of the word Trane in the title is more a "doffing of the cap" to the Jazz Icon than any reference to the music on this release.  
Chris Greco hails from LA, and is well-schooled in both classical and jazz disciplines (a well-qualified, multi award-winning product of UCLA).  He appears to involve himself in many projects, often simultaneously, and his body of works are now finding the light of day on gwsfourwinds.
This latest release showcases eight compositions by Greco plus the final track Soul Eyes, many of the self-penned numbers having titles linked to the Pleiades star constellation (Sterope, Merope, Maia and Electra being four of the seven stars).
Greco's notoriety in the jazz world is borne largely from his improvisational skills, and if this album's anything to go by this revolves around blowing over a steady groove, as opposed to anything free-er.  It's certainly not wild nor groundbreaking, and whilst it's competent and well played it will suit a certain sort of improv fan who doesn't like matters to get too left field.
From a personal perspective, the first track, Sterope, is certainly my favourite, starting as it does with some atmospheric, free playing before settling into a groove for Greco and Rabuchin to play over.
There are some good moments throughout the album, although the overall impression for me is that it's just a bit safe, perhaps just too much of a laid-back, West Coast feel to it.  Also (and this is down to individual taste), I find Rabuchin's guitar tone to be just a little over-processed.  Decent player, but on this outing his sound's a little too homogenized-LA.
Respect is due to the rhythm section; Taba is solid throughout and Kay shows some real diversity to his playing on both drums and congas.
Nevertheless, this is an interesting album that I'd recommend you borrow rather than buy, and serves as a marker for someone to look out for.  It will be interesting to see (and hear) what Chris Greco's up to these days, and should he come to a place anywhere near you I'd say he's definitely worth a punt for the price of a ticket.
Those interested, please visit http://www.erjn.it/greco.
Trane of Thought released March 19th 2013.
Les.

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