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Bebop Spoken There

Kurt Elling: ''There's something to learn from every musician you play with''. (DownBeat, December 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

17630 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 904 of them this year alone and, so far, 49 this month (Dec. 20).

From This Moment On ...

December

Sat 21: Lindsay Hannon Quartet @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £15.00. ‘Swinging with Christmas Songs’.
Sat 21: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 21: Jackson’s Wharf Xmas Party @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 7:00pm. Free. Featuring the New ’58 Jazz Collective.
Sat 21: Brass Fiesta @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 10:30pm. Free.

Sun 22: Hot Club du Nord @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £15.00. + bf. Xmas party. SOLD OUT!
Sun 22: Red Kites Jazz @ Gibside Chapel, nr. Rowlands Gill. 1:00pm. Admission charge applies.
Sun 22: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 22: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: Revolutionaires @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Superb rhythm & blues outfit.
Sun 22: Laurence Harrison, Paul Grainger & Mark Robertson @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Line-up TBC.
Sun 22: The Globe Xmas Party @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Live music (musicians TBC).
Sun 22: Ray Stubbs R & B All-Stars @ Zerox, Sandhill, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors).

Mon 23: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Wheatsheaf, Benton Sq., Whitley Road, Palmersville NE12 9SU. Tel: 0191 266 8137. 1:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Mon 23: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 4:00pm. Free.
Mon 23: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Mon 23: Milne-Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.

Tue 24: Lindsay Hannon & Mark Williams @ Ernest, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 11:00am-1:00pm. Free.
Tue 24: Paul Skerritt @ Mambo Wine & Dine, South Shields. 1:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.

Wed 25: Wot? No jazz!

Thu 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free. TBC.
Thu 26: The Boneshakers @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. The 17th annual Boneshakers’ Shindig.

Fri 27: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free. Business as usual!.
Fri 27: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 27: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

Friday, October 18, 2013

James Birkett & Bradley Johnston @ Lit & Phil.

James Birkett (guitar) & Bradley Johnston (guitar)
(Review by Russell/Photo by Jerry)
Bradley Johnston first came to the attention of Bebop Spoken Here at Blaydon Jazz Club  playing a couple of numbers during the interval with James Birkett. At the time Johnston was about fourteen or fifteen years of age. He made a huge impression then, now, three or four years later, something of a veteran, he continues to win plaudits for his fearless, yet sensitive approach to some challenging material. He has enrolled on the BMus degree programme at Sage Gateshead (his tutor is none other than Dr.J.Birkett) and can be heard gigging around town with Birkett or in the company of his fellow students.
This lunchtime date at the Lit & Phil in Newcastle was another marker along the way. A full house, everyone listening intently, the dynamic duo could be forgiven for having stage fright. So, what did they do? They dusted down Dick McDonough’s StageFright! Nerves settled – it looked like there were none – Birkett announced that Johnston would take Joe Venuti’s violin part on Stringing the Blues, Birkett later suggested he himself could be ‘Blind Willie’ Birkett!
The duo played acoustic or (lightly amplified) electric guitars. The material was a delight; Wave, Morris Dance/Fisco Place (Bireli Lagrene), John Lewis’ elegant waltz Skating on Central Park. Birkett, the master guitarist, made brief, informative announcements and then proceeded to play classic jazz guitar – the pioneers of the twenties and thirties, bossa, Hot Club, bop to contemporary hero Pat Metheny. This would have been a solo master class but we had Bradley Johnston sitting alongside him so we got twice the brilliance for our money. Worth every penny.
Birkett took the time to introduce Johnston’s new guitar prior to the Lagrene number. Made by South Korean luthier Jeongwoo Cho, the Maccaferri-style instrument sounded great, as did Birkett’s. The applause said it all. The hour long survey of jazz guitar included a terrific take on Anthropology, so-sensitive lead from Johnston on Farmer’s Trust (P.Metheny) and the finale – Chick Corea’s Spain. It works every time – huge applause.
An after thought…at the Newcastle International Jazz Festival (yes, there was such a thing) and at gigs in the bar of the University Theatre (now Northern Stage) a then young guitarist made a great impression. He went on to play with Ian Carr. His name? Mark Wood. I’d be willing to bet that Bradley Johnston goes on to make a name for himself. For up to date news of Birkett and Johnston gigs check out www.jamesbirkettmusic.com
Russell.
          


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