Total Pageviews

Bebop Spoken There

Raymond Chandler: “ I was walking the floor and listening to Khatchaturian working in a tractor factory. He called it a violin concerto. I called it a loose fan belt and the hell with it ". The Long Goodbye, Penguin 1959.

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

16350 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 230 of them this year alone and, so far, 27 this month (April 11).

From This Moment On ...

April

Fri 19: Cia Tomasso @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. ‘Cia Tomasso sings Billie Holiday’. SOLD OUT!
Fri 19: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 19: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 19: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 19: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Radio Rooms, Berwick. 7:00pm (doors). £5.00.
Fri 19: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Seventeen Nineteen, Hendon, Sunderland. 7:30pm.
Fri 19: Levitation Orchestra + Nauta @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £11.00.
Fri 19: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ The Witham, Barnard Castle. 8:00pm. ‘Ella & Ellington’.

Sat 20: Record Store Day…at a store near you!
Sat 20: Bright Street Band @ Washington Arts Centre. 6:30pm. Swing dance taster session (6:30pm) followed by Bright Street Big Band (7:30pm). £12.00.
Sat 20: Michael Woods @ Victoria Tunnel, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Acoustic blues.
Sat 20: Rendezvous Jazz @ St Andrew’s Church, Monkseaton. 7:30pm. £10.00. (inc. a drink on arrival).

Sun 21: Jamie Toms Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 21: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay Metro Station. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Holy Grale, Durham. 5:00pm.
Sun 21: The Jazz Defenders @ Cluny 2. Doors 6:00pm. £15.00.
Sun 21: Edgar Rubenis @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Blues & ragtime guitar.
Sun 21: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Art Themen with the Dean Stockdale Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £10.00. +bf. JNE. SOLD OUT!

Mon 22: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 23: Vieux Carre Hot 4 @ Victoria & Albert Inn, Seaton Delaval. 12:30-3:30pm. £12.00. ‘St George’s Day Afternoon Tea’. Gig with ‘Lashings of Victoria Sponge Cake, along with sandwiches & scones’.
Tue 23: Jalen Ngonda @ Newcastle University Students’ Union. POSTPONED!

Wed 24: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 24: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 24: Sinatra: Raw @ Darlington Hippodrome. 7:30pm. Richard Shelton.
Wed 24: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 24: Death Trap @ Theatre Royal, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Rambert Dance Co. Two pieces inc. Goat (inspired by the music of Nina Simone) with on-stage musicians.

Thu 25: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 25: Jim Jams @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Jim Jams’ funk collective.
Thu 25: Gateshead Jazz Appreciation Society @ Gateshead Central Library, Gateshead. 2:30pm.
Thu 25: Death Trap @ Theatre Royal, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Rambert Dance Co. Two pieces inc. Goat (inspired by the music of Nina Simone) with on-stage musicians.
Thu 25: Jeremy McMurray & the Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm.
Thu 25: Kate O’Neill, Alan Law & Paul Grainger @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 25: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Guests: Richie Emmerson (tenor sax); Neil Brodie (trumpet); Adrian Beadnell (bass); Garry Hadfield (keys).

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

RIP Jim Hall (1930-2013)

The word is that one of the world's greatest jazz guitarists, Jim Hall, passed away in his sleep early this morning. I haven't had absolute confirmation but I think the source is reliable. How sad is this and how sudden?
Less than a fortnight ago Mike Papapavlou reported on the awesome experience of hearing Jim Hall in New York and now he's gone.
It was back in the 1960s when I heard Jim Hall as part of the Jimmy Giuffre Trio in a JATP package at Newcastle City Hall. Such a cool, laid back player. Years later, Roly Veitch introduced me to the Jim Hall/Paul Desmond sides and in between I'd heard Hall on Sonny Rollins' legendary LP The Bridge.
Guitar playing of the highest quality.
I'm hoping my information is wrong but, somehow, I know it isn't.
The jazz world and the guitar world has lost a giant.
Jim Hall was 83.
Sadly missed.

6 comments :

Liz said...

he was one of my late dad's favourites

Lance said...

And your brothers too I would guess!

Roly Veitch said...

This is such sad news and despite his advancing years a big shock as Jim was active and playing as well as ever till very recently. I'm one of the many, many jazz guitarists who absolutely love his playing. From his early recordings with Giuffre then Desmond it was clear here was someone rather different with a thoughtful style, an intent listener to those around him, a harmonic master and a lyrical soloist for whom a sense of form and the innate beauty in his work, seemed so natural. His subsequent career is well documented – the iconic album with Rollins, the sublime duo pairing with Bill Evans, the 'Alone Together' duo with bassist Ron Carter, and his work many other jazz legends. I particularly love his trio and quartet albums – 'All across the city' and 'Circles'.
Jim Hall influenced countless jazz guitarists some who have become icons in their own right yet somehow he remained very different, a totally unique player who graced everything in music he was involved with and who must surely be ranked not only among the all time greats of jazz guitar but more than that, one of the truly great jazz musicians across the entire history of the music.

John Forster (on f/b) said...

That's a great shame.one of the masters.

Jim Douglas said...

To my mind Jim Hall was the gentle giant of jazz guitar. His tone was quiet and soft and lulled you into the false belief that he wasn’t really doing very much until you tried to copy his runs, licks and chording. It was then you realised that this was no ordinary player and any complacency on your part was immediately replaced by feelings of inadequacy and awe. From his insistent rhythmic accompaniment with Jimmy Giuffre and Bob Brookmeyer, his exciting duets with Jimmy Raney and his superb album with the wonderful Carl Perkins on piano, to his tasteful solo performances, Hall has left an unequalled legacy of excellence. My particular favourite performances are his solo on “Deep in a Dream” on the aforementioned album and his playing throughout “In the Wee Small Hours” with Gerry Mulligan. I caught him once in London and came away spellbound and inspired in the same way I would have been if he had been Django Reinhardt or Charlie Christian. High praise indeed but totally deserved. The news of his death has shocked and saddened me immeasurably.
Jim Douglas

Lance said...

"Crazy He Calls Me" from the Giuffre Trio is the one that does it for me.

Blog Archive