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Bebop Spoken There

Simon Spillett: “ Bebop and hard bop came naturally to him [Tubby Hayes]". Morning Star, March 28, 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

Fri 29: FILM: Soul @ The Forum Cinema, Hexham. 12:30pm. Jazz-themed film animation.
Fri 29: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 29: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 29: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 29: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 6:00pm. Free. POSTPONED!
Fri 29: Thundercat @ Newcastle City Hall.
Fri 29: John Logan @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 29: True Colours @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 9:00pm. Blues, jazz & swing.

Sat 30: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 30: Pete Tanton’s Cuba Libre @ Whitley Bay Library, York Road, Whitley Bay. 8:00pm.

Sun 31: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay Metro Station. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 31: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields NE30 1HJ. 3:00pm. Free. Lambert, Alan Law & Paul Grainger.
Sun 31: Sid Jacobs & Tom Remon @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. USA/London jazz guitar duo.
Sun 31: Bellavana @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

April
Mon 01: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 01: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 3:00pm. Free.

Tue 02: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Dean Stockdale, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 03: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 03: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 03: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 04: FILM: Soul @ Forum Cinema, Hexham. 2:00pm. Jazz-themed film animation.
Thu 04: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 04: Funky Drummer @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 04: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 04: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Friday, September 20, 2013

CD Review: John Abercrombie Quartet - 39 Steps.

John Abercrombie (gtr); Marc Copland (pno); Drew Gress (bs); Joey Baron (dms).
(Review by Lance)
Copland and Abercrombie go way back having played in a number of bands together starting with the Chico Hamilton Quartet some 40 years ago so this is no "Pleased to meet you, what shall we play?" session. Instead it's two guys familiar with each other's musical thinking which of course is important in a quartet containing two chordal instruments. Gress and Baron have also had long associations with Abercrombie and Copland's own bands so the scene was set fair for a meeting of kindred spirits.
As the album title implies several of the tracks are inspired by Hitchcock films - Vertigo, Spellbound, Shadow of a Doubt and 39 Steps. Like the films, the music is deep and mysterious, gently probing, asking questions, looking for answers and finding them. Abercrombie wrote 6 of the pieces, Copland 2, there's a collective improvisation and, wait for it, My Melancholy Baby! Take it from me it's like no other Melancholy Baby you've ever heard. A musical jigsaw with some pieces missing - love it!
Guitar and piano blend almost as one throughout with Gress playing counter lines and Baron punctuating with cymbal clashes, snare drum rolls and rhythmic patterns inspired by what's going on around him.
For someone who was once at the cutting edge Abercrombie has mellowed in a most delightful fashion. In his own words, "Along the way my playing has become both more free and more traditional." Indeed only on the collectively improvised Shadow of a Doubt does his freer side emerge and it's hardly a fire in a pet shop - not even a storm in a teacup!
Copland too, once the wildman of the electric saxophone, is now a deeply contemplative pianist patterned in the Bill Evans school of explorative improvisation.
Another gem from ECM - Without a Shadow of a Doubt!
The CD by the John Abercrombie Quartet - 39 Steps is due for release by ECM on Sept. 23 Ref ECM 374 2710.
Lance.

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