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Bebop Spoken There

Abbie Finn: "Even though there's a lot of great work being done to promote women in jazz, I still come up against some attitudes! I pulled up at a recording session with my drums in the car and the studio owner said, 'I'm sorry, this space is reserved for the drummer!'" - (Jazzwise April 2023).

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

15229 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 248 of them this year alone and, so far, 61 this month (March 20).

From This Moment On ...

March

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Traveller's Rest, Cockerton. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public). Note change of venue - CANCELLED CEILING COLLAPSED!
Wed 22: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:00pm.
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thu 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 4:00-6:00pm. Free.
Thu 23: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Bar Loco, Newcasatle. From 6:30pm 'til late. Free. Newcastle University Jazz Orchestra jam session. All welcome (students & non-students).
Thu 23: Kerrin Tatman + John Garner & John Pope @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Thu 23: Sunna Gunnlaugs & Julia Hülsmann @ Sage Gateshead. 8:00pm. A two-piano gig. A Sage Gateshead-JNE promotion.
Thu 23: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Ragtime piano.
Thu 23: Sleep Suppressor @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £10.00., £8.00. adv. Upstairs.
Thu 23: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.
Fri 24: FILM: Mo' Better Blues @ Forum Cinema, Hexham. 7:00pm.
Fri 24: Ian Millar & Dominic Spencer @ Scarth Hall, Staindrop, Co. Durham. 8:00pm. £10.00.
Fri 24: Archipelago + Bulbils @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.

Sat 25: Vermont Big Band @ Walker Community Centre, Walker, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Fundraiser for Benfield Juniours Football Club. Hot food available, BYOB.
Sat 25: John Logan & Friends @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Rat Pack, Motown etc. 8:00pm. Free (donations).

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited @ Park Inn, Hartlepool. 1:00pm.
Sun 26: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 3:00pm.
Sun 26: Outlines @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. JNE promotion (upstairs).

Mon 27: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.

Tue 28: Paul Skerritt @ The Rabbit Hole, Hallgarth St., Durham DH1 3AT. 7:00pm. Paul Skerritt's (solo) weekly residency.
Tue 28: Sanaz Lavasani Trio @ Black Swan, Newcastle Arts Centre. 8:00pm. £12.00 (£10.00. adv).

Wednesday, June 05, 2013

A Brace of Albums from Satoko Fujii - Time Stands Still & Spring Storm.

(Review by Steve H)
Satoko Fujii is a Japanese classically trained avant garde pianist, multi bandleader and composer and that information is probably enough for you to decide whether you will enjoy these CD’s or not. However if you are willing to give  ‘Free Jazz’ a go then I'm sure you will get a lot out of these fascinating and intricate discs.
MA-DO – Time Stands Still
Satoko Fujii (Piano); Natuski Tamura (Trumpet); Norikatsu Koreyasu(Bass); Akira Horikoshi (Drums)
Due to the untimely death at the age of 56 of bass player Norikatsu Koreyasu this is the quartet’s third and final album. Many of the titles bear a relationship to time making the album even more of a poignant memorial to the late bassist. 
Setting off with Fortitude this has a scratching bass intro before other instruments join in, shrill trumpet from Tamura (Fujii’s husband) and then wild discordant piano playing from Fujii gets the whole thing going. North  Wind and the Sun starts atmospherically before a very lively trumpet solo takes it out. It then moves into a surprisingly melodic and tuneful section before  Fujii  erupts with another wild solo and concludes with some ferocious ensemble playing.
Time Flies is a showcase for the drumming of Horikoshi. Rolling Around is a slow short gentle minimalist number with a wolf like feel to it. Set The Clock Back is trumpet led with some very wistful bass from the late Koreyasu. Broken Time is a slow burner which proceeds into an exhilarating thrash followed by a quiet gentle passage before  ending on a booming high. Time stands Still is a very sad haunting and touching conclusion to not only this album but also to the recording career of this fine quartet.

Satoko Fujii New Trio  - Spring Storm
Satoko Fujii ( Piano);Todd Nicholson(Bass);Takshi Itani (Drums)
Spring Storm is the trio’s debut album.
This album kicks off the title song Spring Storm a  slow, quiet, mellow, classical piano solo before bass and drums join in as the tempo and the volume increases. It seems to change tack just about halfway through with a more gentle almost melodic section before progressing to some high tempo rousing activity by the ensemble. Convection  has a plucked bass intro leading into some  rumbling up tempo piano before progressing into a 100 mph gallop.
 Fuki sees Fujii playing wildly and exhilaratingly whilst her partners interject with subtle additions climaxing with a raging drum solo. Next up is the oddly named Whirlwind  as this is the  least ‘stormy’ track on the album! Maebure the longest piece features Nicholson on a long, mournful, bowed bass introduction before  Fujii and Itani burst in giving us a driving tour de force. The mood than changes once again and the song subsides to a melancholy close. The album concludes with Tremble.  An andante piano  piece accompanied by some very complimentary cymbal work by Itani.
If you’re looking for Summertime this album ain’t going to do it for you but Spring Storm is an interesting, enjoyable and worthwhile listen.
Steve H.


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