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Bebop Spoken There

Ambrose Akinmusire: “ I am certainly always aware of what the masses are doing. And when I see too many people going one way, I'm going another way - even when I don't know what's over that way". DownBeat, March, 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

16287 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 169 of them this year alone and, so far, 41 this month (Mar 18).

From This Moment On ...

March

Tue 19: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Tim Johnston.

Wed 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 20: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 20: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 21: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 21: Castillo Neuvo Trio + Conor Emery & His ‘Bones Band @ The Grove, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £10.00. (£7.00. student).
Thu 21: Remi Banklyn + Chris Corcoran Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.50. Chicago blues. An International Guitar Foundation promotion.
Thu 21: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Ragtime piano.
Thu 21: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 22: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 22: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 22: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 22: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 22: Nauta + Remy CB + Last Orders @ Hoochie Coochie, Newcastle. 8:30pm (7:30pm doors). Free.
Fri 22: Vasilis Xenopoulos-Paul Edis Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £15.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 22: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 23: Jambone @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Free (ticketed). End of term performance in the Northern Rock Foundation Hall.
Sat 23: Milne-Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 23: Red Kites Jazz @ Rowlands Gill Community Centre NE39 1JB. 7:00pm. Tickets: £12.00. (gibsidecommunityfarm@gmail.com). A ‘Build a Barn’ fundraiser. BYOB, tea/coffee available.
Sat 23: New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00. + bf (book in person at venue - no booking fee!). Featuring pianist Martin Litton.
Sat 23: Pete Tanton’s Cuba Libre @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 24: Musicians Unlimited @ Park Inn, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 24: Luis Verde @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. Verde (alto sax); Joe Steels (guitar); John Pope (double bass); John Hirst (drums). Alto sax brilliance!
Sun 24: Elsie Franklin @ The Globe, Newcastle. 3:00pm. £10.00. Country blues. An International Guitar Foundation promotion.
Sun 24: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay Metro Station. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: Las Vegas Live with the Rat Pack @ The Forum, Billingham.
Sun 24: Ian Millar & Dominic Spencer @ Otterburn Memorial Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Sun 24: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Note start time - 7:00pm.
Sun 24: Bold Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 25: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

CD Review: Tom Kennedy – Just Play

Tom Kennedy (bs); George Garzone (ten); Renee Rosnes (pno); Dave Weckl (dms) + Mike Stern, Lee Ritenour (gtr); John Allred (tmb); Steve Witts (ten).
(Review by Dave Brownlow.)
This album “Just Play” is an unashamedly swinging session led by bassist-extraordinaire Tom Kennedy where he and several friends, accomplished players all, enjoy work-outs on classic material.
The core group is a quartet comprising George Garzone on tenor, Renee Rosnes on piano, Dave Weckl, drums and the leader on acoustic bass, supplemented on separate tracks by Mike Stern on guitar, Tim Hagans on trumpet, Lee Ritenour on guitar, John Allred trombone, and Steve Wirts, tenor.
Sonny Rollins’ Airegin starts us off at a furious tempo with an unpredictable solo from Garzone and a horn-like one from Kennedy himself. Lee Ritenour is next featured on Bobby Timmons’ Moanin with soulful work from the whole quintet. The Night Has a Thousand Eyes follows, featuring Hagans, Allred and Wirts augmenting the quartet into  a nicely arranged performance in which Weckl’s drums “sparkle”. The tempo slows next for a Garzone rendition of Lee Morgan’s Ceora also featuring Rosnes airy, tasteful and flowing piano solo.
On his own One Liners, Mike Stern joins the group for this high energy swinger. Mike uses a distinctive, slightly distorted guitar tone which is reminiscent of Hiram Bullock’s work in Gil Evans’ freewheeling ensemble at The Sweet Basil .This cranks up the excitement level leading into a Rosnes solo which takes one in and out of “Tyner Country” with fleet-fingered right hand work over those memorable tri-tone left hand chords. Duke Ellington’s In a Sentimental Mood follows next at a lively tempo featuring the whole quartet.
Kennedy himself begins Bolivia with Cedar Walton’s familiar opening bass line and continues with a formidable solo showcasing his “monster chops. Renee Rosnes is herself featured next in a beautifully re-harmonised trio version of Brubeck’s In Your Own Sweet Way. Renee’s playing reminds one of Al Haig’s style, with graceful melodic ideas and well spaced-out phrases, combining with a lovely touch at the keyboard making the piano “sing”. Dave would have liked this track…..The album closes with a Rollins Trio-style (tenor/bass/drums) version of What Is This Thing Called Love which allows Garzone great freedom without any chordal support from piano or guitar. Here he goes “inside and outside” on these well-known changes, challenging drummer Weckl to some fiery exchanges en route.
As a bassist Tom Kennedy has the lot. A remarkable technique enables him to hold the rhythm section together whatever the tempo, and take solos which are horn-like in their construction. His tone is full and compelling, even cello-like when he ascends into the higher registers where his intonation is spot-on unlike some other famous players who have found it difficult to achieve ! I’ve not heard the bass played as fast since Scott La Faro’s days – in fact at times you would think Tom’s playing bass-guitar.
Overall, a most spirited and enjoyable CD where Tom’s exhortations to “Just Play” were fully realised by all concerned !
Tom Kennedy – Just Play is available on CAPRI RECORDS  #74122-2
Dave Brownlow

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