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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.

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Vasilis Xenopoulos with the Paul Edis Trio @ The Traveller’s Rest. October 25

Vasilis Xenopoulos (tenor & soprano saxophones), Paul Edis (keyboards), Tony Abel (double bass) & Adam Sinclair (drums)
(Review by Russell)
Having attended an event at Sage Gateshead, it was unseasonably mild as I strolled across the High Level Bridge to Central Station in time to catch the 19:03 train to Darlington. The Opus 4 Jazz Club at the Traveller’s Rest in Cockerton, Darlington had secured a return visit by Vasilis Xenopoulos. It was the Greek tenor player’s sole engagement in the north east this year making it a ‘must get to’ gig. Central Station was crowded, more so than usual. Trains were going nowhere fast, at a standstill at platforms, stationary on the King Edward Bridge. Down the East Coast mainline at Chester le Street there was an ongoing trespass incident. Don’t you realise this is Friday rush hour? Don’t you realise there is soon to be some great tenor being played in Darlington? One wag said: Run the b****** over!
Arriving half an hour late, Vasi would be in full flow. Walking into the Traveller’s, there was pianist Paul Edis standing outside, mobile in hand. What are you doing out here? I said. Vasi’s late, said Edis. Time for a Guinness. Vasi arrived (six hours and ten minutes on the M1 from London), unpacked his horn and started to play…and how! One astute listener, with no little admiration, remarked: To arrive, take the stand and play - like that! Absolutely right. What a player!
Paul Edis’ friendship with Xenopoulos diffused a potentially difficult situation (big name arrives, tired, ‘difficult’ etc). Fantastic tenor, fantastic trio. A full house too. Noisy at the bar, the sound not the best from certain vantage points. It was one of those nights. A great night in spite of, perhaps because of, the circumstances. Xenopoulos’ full, rich tone, imperious technique, infinite ideas (replete with quotes!) made this a gig to remember. Centrepiece, Blame It On My Youth, A Night in Tunisia, I’ll Remember April, top tunes all, a Vasi ballad composition, great piano from Edis, the superb Adam Sinclair (exemplary brushwork) and the dep for a dep Tony Abel held it together like the true pro he is.
Xenopoulos and Edis are at Zefferelli’s in Ambleside tonight (Saturday 26) – if you are in the vicinity get yourself along, you won’t regret it. Vasi should return to play a series of dates in the north east. He needs to be heard. Here’s a dream itinerary…the Maltings, Berwick, Exchange Café, Hexham, the Black Bull, Blaydon, the Lit & Phil, Newcastle (Edis at the grand), a return to the Traveller’s, Saltburn Community Hall. That’s six dates to be getting on with. Add a festival date or two (Sage Gateshead, Scarborough)…all perfectly possible, Promoters, make it happen. A post script - thanks to PB for the lift across town, much appreciated on the night.        
Russell.               

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