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Bebop Spoken There

Branford Marsalis: "As ignorance often forces us to do, you make a generalisation about a musician based on one specific record or one moment in time." - (Jazzwise June 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

15491 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 512 of them this year alone and, so far, 133 this month (May 31).

From This Moment On ...

Wed 07: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 07: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 07: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:00pm.
Wed 07: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thu 08: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free. CANCELLED! BACK ON JUNE 15.
Thu 08: Easington Colliery Brass Band @ The Lubetkin Theatre, Peterlee. 7:00pm. £10.00.
Thu 08: Faye MacCalman + Blue Dust Archive @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Thu 08: Dilutey Juice + Ceramic @ The Ampitheatre, Sea Road, South Shields. 7:00pm. Free. A South Tyneside Festival event.
Thu 08: Lara Jones w. Vigilance State @ Lubber Fiend, Blandford Square, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Thu 08: Michael Littlefield @ the Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Country blues.
Thu 08: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Fri 09: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 09: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.
Fri 09: Castillo Nuevo @ Revolución de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30-8:30pm.
Fri 09: Emma Rawicz @ Sage Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 10: Miners' Picnic @ Woodhorn, Ashington. Music inc. Northern Monkey Brass Band (3:00-3:50pm); New York Brass Band (4:00-4:55pm).
Sat 10: Front Porch Three @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Americana, blues, jazz etc.
Sat 10: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.

Sun 11: WORKSHOP: Tim Richards' Jazz Piano Workshop @ JG Windows, Newcastle. Time TBC. Further details tel. 0191 232 1356.
Sun 11: Jeremy McMurray's Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Ropner Park, Stockton TS18 4EF. 2:00-4:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 11: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 3:00pm.
Sun 11: Groovetrain @ Innisfree Sports & Social Club, Longbenton NE12 8TY. Doors 6:30pm. £15.00 (£7.00. under 16).
Sun 11: Jeffrey Hewer Collective @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 12: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.

Tue 13: Paul Skerritt @ The Rabbit Hole, Hallgarth St., Durham DH1 3AT. 7:00pm. Paul Skerritt's (solo) weekly residency.
Tue 13: Infusion Trio @ Forum Music Centre, Darlington. 7:30pm.
Tue 13: Alice Grace & Pawel Jedrzejewski @ Black Swan, Newcastle Arts Centre. 8:00pm. £12.00 (£10.00. adv.).

Monday, February 10, 2014

CD Review: Tord Gustavsen Quartet - Extended Circle

Tord Gustavsen – Piano, Tore Brunborg – Saxophones, Mats Eilertsen - Double Bass, Jarle Vespestad – Drums.
(Review by Steve H.)
Norwegian jazz tends not to be the wild swinging sort of music that originated from New Orleans;  in fact when you hear of Norwegian blues I’m sure  many people think of the legendary Monty Python parrot sketch . This album by Norwegian pianist Tord Gustavsen, his sixth for the ECM label, will not disavow you of any preconceived ideas about the Nordic interpretation of this musical art form. However,  for those who appreciate subtle, meditative, atmospheric and thought provoking music,  I can thoroughly recommend you give this genre a listen and hopefully it will have you ‘pining for the Fjords’.
We are lulled into this album with Right There a slow and gentle introduction played by the rhythm trio. The next song is a take on that well known Norwegian Hymn Eg Veit I Himmerik Ei Borg (A Castle in Heaven), the rhythm section take the early lead with Vespestad featuring prominently on snare, ushering Brunborg to perform a soaring emotional sax solo. Entrance is a short stark minimalist piece. The Gift , another trio piece is a mellow meditative ballad. Staying There, within  the context of this album,  is a lively funky number although even the ladies of Hoochie Coochie might struggle to dance to it. Back on calmer territory with Silent Spaces  which does what it says on the tin. A reprise of Entrance with more haunting Saxophone from Brunborg leads into Devotion another piece inspired by sacred music and if my local church offered peaceful inspired music like this I would be a regular attendee. The Embrace is almost a jolly tune and builds to a quite rousing, might I say, uplifting finale. The penultimate track Glow,  a powerful brooding quartet number, is preceded by  a short solo from bassist Mats Eilertsen  Bass Transition. The album finishes as it began with the return of the trio in The Prodigal Song  to send us away relaxed and calm as if we had just  spent a very rejuvenating  hour in the sauna. 
Steve H.

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