Total Pageviews

Bebop Spoken There

James Brandon Lewis: "Sometimes I'm not thinking about anything other than blowing the paint off the walls, and other times I'm narrating a story about my life." - (DownBeat 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

15516 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 536 of them this year alone and, so far, 25 this month (June 7).

From This Moment On ...

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: Jeffrey Hewer @ The Vault, Darlington Covered Market, Darlington. 6:00-8:00pm. Free.
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.
Sun 11: Jam No. 19 @ Fabio's Bar, Saddler Street, Durham. 8:00pm. Free. All welcome. A Durham University Jazz Society event.

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.).

Wed 14: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 14: NUJO Final Jazz Jam @ Bar Loco, Newcastle. 6:30pm. Free. Newcastle University Jazz Orchestra's final jam session of the academic year. All welcome.
Wed 14: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 14: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:00pm.
Wed 14: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thu 15: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 15: Gateshead Jazz Appreciation Society @ Gateshead Central Library. 2:30-4:30pm. £2.00. All welcome.
Thu 15: Castillo Nuevo @ Revolución de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30-8:30pm.
Thu 15: Alexander Ord Trio @ Tynedale Beer & Cider Festival, Tynedale Rugby Club, Corbridge. Evening, time TBC.
Thu 15: Têtes de Pois + Nauta @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. Time TBC.
Thu 15: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ The Millstone March 26

(Review by Kath J.)
On the last Thursday of the month, you can be pretty certain to find me at the open rehearsal of The Strictly Smokin’ Big Band, and although some may think I am biased, due to my best beloved playing 1st Tenor, I endeavour for  my reviews to be honest and accurate.
This evening’s lack of singers allowed the SSBB to show off what a contemporary and varied instrumental pad they have and it’s superb to hear the variety of arrangements.  As usual the place was packed out with an attentive audience, some of whom had come up from downstairs when they heard the music start, and so by the time Paul Bream, Chair of Jazz Northeast  arrived towards the end of the first set, there wasn’t a seat to be had.
The Band set away with Catch As Catch Can and the first of several “blisteringly hot” solos from Paul Gowland, now before you think this is the bias coming out, you will note the quotation marks, and indeed that was a quote from another Saxophonist, Mr Steve Summers, who being such a gent was very complimentary of his colleague and indeed is an expert in these matters, as you will see from my own comments later in the review.  Next up was I Got Plenty O’ Nuttin’ from Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, and the saxophone section were really on a roll.  Have you Met Miss Jones saw solos from the band leader Mr Michael Lamb and from the mellow tenor of Jamie Toms.  The next tune was described as, ‘a bit of an experiment’ by Michael Lamb and to my mind the experiment was a resounding success, with a solo from Paul Gowland it was  Sonny Rollins’ Bag’s Groove
Do Nothing  ‘til You Hear From Me saw Stevie Summers take up the baton of the ‘blisteringly hot’ sax solo and then came another experiment in the form of  Lance’s all-time favourite, Summertime, and wow can Michael Lamb blow that horn… superlative solo!  Nutville exhibited two more of this talented gathering, featuring Graham Bell and Guy Swinton in addition to solos from Michael Lamb and Paul Gowland.    I really loved the rarely-played North Shore Evening with beautifully executed piano sections from Graham Bell and a delightful solo by Paul Gowland.  Next we found ourselves in a Caravan, and stupendous solos from Bradley Johnson, Pete Tanton and dare I say it again… Paul Gowland.  The first set came to a close with Mercy Mercy  Mercy including solo highlights from Steve Summers, Graham Bell and Bradley Johnson.
Half time gave us the opportunity to buy the brand new CD from Bradley Johnson and James Birkett – Together; and yes I did add this one to my collection. In addition, it gave Paul and I something new to listen to on the way home… excellent addition to our Jazz CD collection!
Set two saw the band’s leader on top form again in Ole Man River and one of those more contemporary numbers, Song for AEG featured Jamie Toms again.  A swap of instrument for Steve Summers who picked up his Soprano Sax to solo in Us. Sax Alley came next with soprano sax Steve and tenors Paul and Jamie; this is another favourite of mine… just love those Saxes.  The more contemporary current tunes certainly caught the appreciation of Mr Bream and later he said that for him the number Mr Dudley, which saw a further change of instrument for the versatile Steve Summers on Clarinet and  Pete Tanton on Trumpet, was the business, and for him, this number, along with Song for AEG were the highlight of the performance.   Penultimately we saw Keith Robinson play a spectacular solo during Ya Snooze Ya Lose, and as this was a Big Band it was fitting that with the help of solos from Steve Summers and Pete Tanton, we were left, In The Mood.
Kath.

No comments :

Blog Archive