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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.

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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