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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.

Thursday, January 30, 2014

More Jazz Extravaganza

(Review by JC/ Photo by Ken Drew.)
From the little I understand about quantum mechanics, apparently a quantum particle can be in two places at the same time. This would have been a useful special power to have in order to get the most out of the feast of musical delights offered by the JNE and Splinter Jazz Extravaganza. For by having simultaneous sessions in two venues listeners were presented with multiple choices, not to say dilemmas, on an hourly basis: to hear top local musicians in an array of diverse combinations or new names from outside the region (plus mystery guests!).
And what a wonderful extravagance it was to have two jazz venues, within a trumpet's blast of each other, packed full of top musicians, going on at the same time.
Having memories of a storming gig a while back at the Corner House I decided to start with the Spillett/Anderson/ Edis Trio at the Jazz Cafe.  Unfortunately Simon Spillett was unwell but even though they were new playing acquaintances, Matt Anderson and the Trio quickly got into a groove and played a very good set.
Next up was the 8pm Corey Mwamba's Improv Mashup at the Bridge which was previewed as 'two hours of different combinations and permutations, some pre-determined, others spontaneously evolving' and added intriguingly 'Nothing is certain...' I wasn't quite clear what a 'mashup' involved but it was starting to sound like a musical version of the Uncertainty Principle. Arriving at the Bridge the room was nicely crowded and it became clear that Corey Mwamba was the conductor for this session. He outlined what was going to happen which might be summarised as in the first part various musicians will go on and off the stage, while in the second part everyone will be on stage together - straightforward enough, you might think.
However, then began fifty minutes of an extraordinarily fascinating musical experience expertly choreographed by Mwamba like an old-fashioned traffic policeman at a busy intersection. With a wave of his hand a musician would appear from the audience while another would slip away again, another wave and some instruments would play and others would stop. The ebb and flow of musicians and the sounds they produced created a striking visual effect which added to the performance. Since I didn't know most of them it was impossible to keep track of all the musicians or how many there were but there was some exquisite vocalising from the female singer who produced an extravagant array of sounds, some of which were echoed and added to by the guitarist and other instruments. Andy Champion explored all parts of his double bass as a source of music and a variety of saxophones joined in, as well as a classical looking instrument I didn't quite recognise (a bassoon, maybe), and much more besides. Corey Mwamba himself caressed sweet sounds out of the vibes with his fingers, leaving the mallets to the second vibes player.  A stunning session to hear and experience live.
Of course, at a session like this it is always a challenge to know exactly what is part of the performance and what is a casual accident. Clearly the two minutes the pianist played on the unplugged electric keyboard was a humorous nod to many such scenes in silent movies and the singer's kick to knock over the microphone seemed like a post-punk reference. On the other hand, when Corey Mwamba bent right over his vibes and started waving his hands in amongst the pipes underneath he had obviously dropped something important.
An extra bonus at the Bridge was the stall selling books and CDs and I picked up a book on Chet Baker while my friend bought a John Lee Hooker box set, a man who had no doubt been involved in the odd mashup himself in his time.
Although there was to be more 'mashing', it was time to head out into the night back to the Jazz Cafe for the 9pm slot. There had been a little bit of a time overrun and the 8 o'clock band were still playing, so we got a taste of the two sax pairing of the Jonathan Silk Quintet - very tasty it was too. This meant that the length of the final set by Paul Edis and guests was a little bit constrained. Because we were at the back of the room and the place was still full (is it my imagination or is the new bar counter quite large?) I couldn't hear the names of who exactly was playing along with Paul but they produced some tight and sparky playing and ended on a jazz-funk note to loud applause. A great finish to a terrific day. Huge appreciation is due to all of the organisers and the musicians who made it possible.
JC

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