Total Pageviews

Bebop Spoken There

Marcella Puppini (in concert with the Puppini Sisters at Sunderland Fire Station, November 27, 2024): ''We've never played there, but we've looked it up, and it looks amazing.''. (The Northern Echo, November 21, 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

17562 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 836 of them this year alone and, so far, 74 this month (Nov. 22).

From This Moment On ...

November

Sat 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Spanish City, Whitley Bay. 11:00-1:00pm. £6.00. at the door, £4.00. advance. Tel: 0191 691 7090. A Spanish City ‘Xmas Market’ event in the Champagne Bar.
Sat 23: Durham Alumni Big Band @ Number One Bar, Skinnergate, Darlington. 11:00am-12:30pm. Free (donations, fill up the bucket!) CANCELLED!
Sat 23: Washboard Resonators @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm. £12.00.
Sat 23: Paul Skerritt Big Band @ Westovian Theatre, South Shields. 7:30pm.

Sun 24: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Spanish City, Whitley Bay. 11:00-1:00pm. £6.00. at the door, £4.00. advance. Tel: 0191 691 7090. A Spanish City ‘Xmas Market’ event in the Champagne Bar.
Sun 24: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Skerritt (solo) performing with backing tapes.
Sun 24: Greg Abate w. Dean Stockdale Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 24: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: Washboard Resonators @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. £8.00.
Sun 24: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: Groovetrain @ Hoochie Coochie, Newcastle. £15.00. + bf. 5:15pm (4:00pm doors). SOLD OUT!
Sun 24: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 24: Greg Abate w. Dean Stockdale Trio @ The Globe. 8:00pm.
Sun 24: Lighthouse Trio @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Mon 25: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 25: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Wheatsheaf, Benton Sq., Whitley Road, Palmersville NE12 9SU. Tel: 0191 266 8137. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 26: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £12.00.; £10.00. advance.

Wed 27: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 27: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:00-7:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Wed 27: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 27: Puppini Sisters @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.
Wed 27: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 28: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 28: Paul Skerritt @ Ashington High Street. 5:45pm. Xmas lights switch-on.
Thu 28: Mick Cantwell Band @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb blues singer!
Thu 28: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesborough. 8:30pm. Free. Guests: Richie Emmerson (tenor sax); Dan Johnson (alto sax); Graham Thompson (keys); Adrian Beadnell (bass)

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

Wednesday, April 02, 2014

CD Review: Johanna Graham Quartet - Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight.

Johanna Graham (voice); Martin Bowie (gtr); Tim Greenhalgh (bs); Damian Rodd (dms) + Rory Simmons (tpt).
(Review by Lance)
I usually farm out vocal CDs to my team of vocal experts - I mean, how many more times do I want to hear Summertime? However, occasionally I pull rank and say "This is mine!"
Which is what I've done with this one even though it does contain the dreaded Summertime!
This is Ms Graham's début album and already I'm short-listing it.
Given the current attention being paid to the return of Kate Bush it is perhaps fitting that the album opens with The Man with the Child in his Eyes. Lightly swinging, trumpet and guitar solos, immaculate bass and drums and a vocal that offers a credible alternative to the Kate Bush version.
Funny, a Nat King Cole hit from the 1950s, is an emotive tale of lost love. Johanna fighting her feelings and almost having us (and herself) believing it. Masterful storytelling.
Lennon and McCartney released I Will on the legendary White Album and Graham brings her own take to the table - delicious and enhanced by Simmons' tightly muted trumpet.
Too Much, an original by Graham and Martin Bowie, has echoes of bygone divas such as Ella, Anita, Shirley Horn and present days wonders such as Diana Krall and Claire Martin. Fine open horn on this one and nice West Coast (USA) guitar sound. I'm Through With Love - if I had to choose just one tune from the album this would be it! Fortunately, I don't have to make that very difficult choice particularly as the next track is James Taylor's Don't Let me be Lonely Tonight.
People are Strange is a reminder of the quality of music laid down by The Doors and once again our girl proves she can do covers that don't sound like covers. The second original by Graham and Bowie, Empty Serenade, is a sorrowful, reflective piece made all the more melancholic by Greenhalgh's bass. Is this just a song or is she really pouring her heart out ? Either way she gets the message across.
More sadness - When Sunny Gets Blue - but with hope for the future...
No hope for the future in Stormy Weather but Johanna Graham's performance suggests a rosy future for her! The scatting rounds off an excellent disc.
And now it's time to hold up my hand and say that the bonus track - Summertime - is the least worst version of that overworked tune!
Highly recommended.   
Lance.
The CD: Johanna Graham Quartet - Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight (Label - 33 Records) is being launched at Pizza Express, Dean St., Soho, London on May 25.
at

No comments :

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )

Blog Archive