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Bebop Spoken There

Kurt Elling: ''There's something to learn from every musician you play with''. (DownBeat, December 2024).

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Hudson Music: Lance's "Bebop Spoken Here" is one of the heaviest and most influential jazz blogs in the UK.

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Josh Weir: I love the writing on bebop spoken here... I think the work you are doing is amazing.

Postage

17630 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 904 of them this year alone and, so far, 49 this month (Dec. 20).

From This Moment On ...

December

Mon 23: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Wheatsheaf, Benton Sq., Whitley Road, Palmersville NE12 9SU. Tel: 0191 266 8137. 1:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Mon 23: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 4:00pm. Free.
Mon 23: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Mon 23: Milne-Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.

Tue 24: Lindsay Hannon & Mark Williams @ Ernest, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 11:00am-1:00pm. Free.
Tue 24: Paul Skerritt @ Mambo Wine & Dine, South Shields. 1:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.

Wed 25: Wot? No jazz!

Thu 26: The Boneshakers @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. The 17th annual Boneshakers’ Shindig.

Fri 27: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free. Business as usual!.
Fri 27: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 27: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

Sat 28: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 11:30am. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 28: Fri 20: Castillo Nuevo @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Sat 28: Jude Murphy, Rich Herdman & Giles Strong @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 28: Ray Stubbs R & B All-Stars @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Stepney Bank, Newcastle. 9:00pm. Free.

Sun 29: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 29: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

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

Friday, April 11, 2014

Virtuoso Jazz Trio @ The Lit & Phil. April 11

George MacDonald (clarinet), James Birkett (guitar), & Tony Abell (double bass) + Bernice MacDonald (vocals)
(Review by Russell/Photos courtesy of Jerry Edis).
The latest in the Lit and Phil’s monthly lunchtime concert series presented the Virtuoso Jazz Trio. The trio’s performances are few and far between and this city centre date drew a large audience keen to hear timeless material from the Great American Songbook. Three Gershwin tunes to begin with: But Not For Me, Somebody Loves Me and Lady Be Good. Clarinet virtuoso George MacDonald took the first solo of the afternoon, on the second number virtuoso guitarist James Birkett developed a solo from a welter of chords and on a swift Lady Be Good virtuoso bassist Tony Abell swung none stop. 
From Gershwin to Goodman and Flying Home. Mr MacDonald spoke about BG’s touring days back in the day, criss-crossing America, finding fame and fortune. Ellington featured – Don’t Get Around Much Anymore and It Don’t Mean a Thing  – and yes, it swung! Swingingly relaxed, an art in itself. Mr MacDonald introduced Lullaby of Birdland suggesting George Shearing was Britain’s finest jazz pianist, period. All three virtuosi took a solo, MacDonald and Birkett’s harmonic ideas a delight. 
A surprise guest – vocalist Bernice MacDonald – sang, without a microphone, The Girl From Ipanema. Ms MacDonald appeared to be slightly nervous, thrust into the limelight in front of a standing room only audience. Jobim’s masterpiece is a delicate thing, Ms MacDonald sang delicately, winning applause. The Telephone Song, something of a novelty number, heard our vocalist gain in confidence (backed by a cracking band!) and with her third and final number - The Three Bears - she was in her element! The trio concluded another successful afternoon of jazz at the Lit & Phil with Sweet Georgia Brown. The Virtuoso Jazz Trio can be heard again at the venue on the evening of Wednesday 7th May. The next lunchtime concert on Friday 9th May (1:00 pm) features Triptych (Paul Edis, piano, Paul Susans, bass and Rob Walker, drums).
Russell.

2 comments :

David Williams said...

Yes, great gig. Particularly enjoyed the Benny Goodman material - obviously a great influence on George.

Ashington Jazz Club said...

Excellent gig. The new bass player Tony Abell is a very tallented player - his other band is Alter Ego

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