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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.

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Requiem by the River - Jazz Esquires @ The Porthole

Miles Watson (tpt/vcl); Pepe Greenaway (alt); Laurie Brown (ten/clt/dms); Roy Gibson (pno); Robin Douthwaite (gtr); Peter Ninnim (dms) + Teresa Armstrong & Dave Bosomworth (vcl).
(Review and remembrance by Lance).
This was quite an emotional day for me - not because it was the Eve of Christmas but because it was the Eve of Destruction for The Porthole pub. A pub that has stood for many years near North Shields' Ferry Landing, now faces the fate of its once glorious neighbours the Crane Locker and the Northumberland Arms (AKA "The Jungle").
For at least 25 years, maybe longer, the Porthole has been a popular jazz watering hole and many are the names both local and beyond who have passed through its portals.
Back in the old days, reed players Munro Sutherland and Russell the barber* (not to be confused with Russell the BSH scribe whom, coincidentally, I first met here and who was also present at today's wake,) held court. Bass player J. C. Hallam, looked in and recalled them as being contenders for the worst clarinet players ever!
Hughie Aitchison played trumpet as did Joe McMullen  who, I think, formed the original version of the current Jazz Esquires.
Stan Martin, Eric Pollard, Tommy Moran, Ian Trewella, Arthur Mowatt, were among the saxes. Derek Dixon was just one of the many bass players and his own wake was held at the pub. Gordon Bage, George Laing played piano as did Bob Coulson and Roy Gibson whose birthday it was today. Eric Gamblin on guitar, Joe Garner bass the list is endless - not forgetting the afternoon I took Eric Delaney over - magic moments. My apologies to all of those musicians that I've missed out - just too many - carve their names with pride.
Apart from the Jazz Esquires, the Maine Street Jazzmen and Rendezvous Jazz also had lunchtime gigs here and no doubt many others.
Today the current alumni, listed above, gave a spirited performance of the tried and tested with Teresa (pictured) in good voice and we wish them all the best for 2015 at their new venue (literally) up the road at the Magnesia Bank (Jan 7, 1pm.)
Lance.
* Russell the barber, incidentally had a baritone sax that once belonged to George Melachrino. He sold it to my dear friend the late Charlie Carmichael who in turn sold it on to Chris, a workmate of mine, and Chris, eventually, sold it in Amsterdam!  Where is it today I wonder?

1 comment :

Laurie Brown said...

Must be 20 years ago (or more) since I first went to the Porthole
and sat in while Johnny Jackson had a tete a tete with his
girlfriend.I sometimes had a job getting him back on the
drums as I had to get back to work ! I sat in (badly) on guitar
for a while then after many many years off the instrument
bought a set of vibes I then took over the drum chair after
Johnny retired from playing. Had many happy years with Joe
Mac, Arthur Mowatt and more fine musicians. I took over the
band eventually and although sad to lose the venue a new
venture awaits at the Magnesia Bank.I have switched to tenor
sax at age 80 years after 64 years drumming mainly for a new
challenge but also increasing arthritis pain (good job I've got my own
band to practice on!)

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