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Bebop Spoken There

Wendell Brunious: "Because the blues is not 1,4 and 5 or 1,4,5,2,1. You could wake up with a flat tyre or a headache this morning, that's the blues, man" - (DownBeat, Oct. 2023).

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!"

Postage

15878 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 885 of them this year alone and, so far, 83 this month (Sept. 30).

From This Moment On ...

October

Mon 02: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Mon 02: FILM: Wattstax; 50th Anniversary @ Forum Cinema, Hexham. 8:00pm.

Tue 03: Paul Skerritt @ The Rabbit Hole, Hallgarth St., Durham DH1 3AT. 7:00pm. Paul Skerritt's (solo) weekly residency.
Tue 03: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. House trio: Michael Young (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Sid White (drums). CANCELLED!

Wed 04: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 04: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 04: Paul Skerritt @ Vespa Italian Bar & Steakhouse, Primrose Hill, Jarrow. From 7:00pm. To book a table - 0191 483 3355.
Wed 04: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thu 05: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 05: Sound the Trumpets @ King's Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 05: Hot Club du Nord @ The Lubetkin Theatre, Peterlee. 7:00pm. £10.00. POSTPONED!
Thu 05: Thursday Night Prayer Meeting @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.
Thu 05: Tommy Bentz Trio + Mark Croft Duo + George Shovlin & George Lamb @ The Harbour View, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Harbour View Speakeasy's USA blues double bill + Shovlin & Lamb!
Thu 05: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Ragtime piano. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.
Thu 05: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Fri 06: Alcyona Mick @ Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Fri 06: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 06: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 06: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.
Fri 06: WORKSHOP: Philosophy of Arts & Entertainment @ Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 2:00pm. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Fri 06: Balo @ Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 6:20pm. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Fri 06: Paul Skerritt @ 3Sixty Champagne Lounge, Hadrian’s Tower, Newcastle. From 7:00pm. To book a table - 0191 933 8591.
Fri 06: Lexer/Mayes/Noble + Semay Wu + Miman @ Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 7:20pm. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Fri 06: Dulcie May Moreno @ The Vault, Hexham. 7:30pm. £20.00. Book in advance. Moreno with Alan Law, Paul Grainger & John Bradford.
Fri 06: Dean Stockdale Quartet @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. 'Celebrating Oscar'.
Fri 06: Nu Brass Sounds: Big Brass Bash @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free.
Fri 06: King Bees @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Blind Pig Blues Club. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.

Sat 07: WORKSHOP: Philosophy of Arts & Entertainment @ Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 10:15am. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Sat 07: Hot Club du Nord @ St Augustine's Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm.
Sat 07: Bugge & Niccols + Moore & Fairhall @ Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Sat 07: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. Tutor: Steve Glendinning - All the Things You Are. £25.00. Enrol at: www.jazz.coop.
Sat 07: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 6:00pm. Free.
Sat 07: Rie Nakajima @ Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 6:20pm. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Sat 07: Paul Skerritt @ 3Sixty Champagne Lounge, Hadrian’s Tower, Newcastle. From 7:00pm. To book a table - 0191 933 8591.
Sat 07: Samuel Blaser Trio + Toxvaerd & Zeeberg + Muramatsu & Welch @ Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 7:20pm. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Sat 07: Anth Purdy @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sat 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 08: Zoë Gilby Quintet + Ubunye @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Line-up inc. Tony Kofi. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Sun 08: Tommy Bentz Band @ Tyne Bar, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. USA blues band.

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Walter Trout Band + Mitch Laddie Band @ Sage Gateshead. November 11

(Review by Russell)
A dream double bill – US blues-rcck guitar giant Walter Trout supported by local hero blues-rock guitar sensation Mitch Laddie. Contrary to some media reports Trout’s European tour had not been cancelled and Hall Two at Sage Gateshead was busy, the crowded main floor all standing.
Trout, a long time mate of Laddie, made a welcome return to Tyneside. His gigs at Riverside on Melbourne Street, Newcastle are the stuff of legend. Subsequent gigs at other venues have earned the former Bluesbreaker a loyal following in the north east.
As the band took to the stage at Sage Gateshead – Walter Trout (guitar, harmonica & vocals), Sammy Avila (Hammond organ & vocals), Rick Knapp (electric bass) & Michael Leasure (drums) + Andrew Elt (electric bass & vocals) – many in the auditorium stood shocked at the frail figure of Walter Trout. Illness had taken its toll, the XL-size American reduced to a ghostly skeletal frame. Trusty Strat in hand, Trout looked drawn, tired. Would this be a desperately sad occasion? No fear!
Hey, swanky joint you’ve got here. Let’s see if we can take it down a notch or two! said Trout of Sage Gateshead. The band played straight through – ninety minutes – in typical Walter Trout Band fashion. Relentless, high volume, high intensity blues-rock of the highest order. Recently hospitalised, diagnosed with liver damage and other ailments, Trout spoke openly with black humour about his current state of health. He said: I’m sixty two years old. The first sixty years were a f****** breeze. The last two years have been s*** . There isn’t anyone in the rudest of health who could hold a candle to Trout’s blues guitar playing (except, perhaps, Mitch Laddie!) To hear the man play, as if possessed, giving it everything, truly was one of those I was there occasions.
The new CD – a tribute to Luther Allison – featured, as did tunes from his extensive Provogue label recording career. The band’s long term stability ensured the tightest of performances. Hammond organist Sammy Avila rocked out all night long, bassist Rick Knapp exuded authority and drummer Michael Leasure slayed ‘em all. Trout took time out, sitting, then leaning against his guitar amp, clearly tired but enjoying every single second of the gig. Knapp swapped his bass for one number to play fantastic guitar, urged to ever greater heights by the appreciative Trout. A rare treat and a mark of Trout’s generosity of spirit occurred when his tour manager of ten years – Andrew Elt – joined the party to play bass on the number! He could play but there was more to come. Picking up the mic, Elt strutted Rock God-like, screaming a vocal as close to Robert Plant as you’re likely to hear. It just so happens that in his spare time Elt fronts a Led Zeppelin tribute band! Michael Leasure grabbed the spotlight with a powerhouse drum solo, Trout again digging it.
This Sage Gateshead show was a gig and a half, memorable in so many ways, none more so than when Mitch Laddie joined Trout for a blues jam. Walter Trout may not be in the best of health but he possesses great spirit and communicated his love of the blues to a packed auditorium. He went out on Goin’ Down, revitalised, playing the blues. The best of luck to you, Walter. See you next time at Sage Gateshead.          
Earlier, young gun Laddie, from Stanley, County DurhamMitch Laddie (guitar & vocals), Rhian Wilkinson (electric bass) & Matt Connor (drums) – brought a large following with him and his trio hit the ground running. Showman Laddie’s superb technique stripped paint from the walls with quick-fire blues licks. Material from the latest CD – Burning Bridges – and back catalogue numbers ensured his forty minutes support slot flew by. Marvin Gaye’s Inner City Blues and Buddy Miles’ Them Changes received rapturous applause. Laddie’s bass and drums pairing – Rhian Wilkinson and Matt Connor – were with him every step of the way. Laddie is destined for the top and these guys are sure to go along for the ride.
Russell.

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