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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.

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'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!

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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.

Thursday, May 21, 2015

Kurt Elling with the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra @ Sage Gateshead. May 20

(Review by Russell)
It is rare to be in the presence of a genuine superstar. On Wednesday evening one such occasion occurred at Sage Gateshead. The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra once again graced the stage in the world-class surroundings of Hall One on the banks of the Tyne. Master of Ceremonies George Duncan introduced the band, led by its Artistic Director Tommy Smith, to present a concert celebrating the centenary year of the birth of Frank Sinatra featuring special guest star Kurt Elling.
To describe Kurt Elling as a ‘special guest’ doesn't begin to attest to the singer’s global status; the vocalist from Chicago, Illinois, is, indisputably, top of the list, number one. The American strolled out into the spotlight in bespoke light grey, check suit and tan shoes. Sixty five minutes later the first set drew to a close. Elling sang without a break, never leaving the stage, the epitome of class. The baritone voice opened the programme with I Only Have Eyes For You. Fabulous, absolutely fabulous. Day In, Day Out. More fabulous singing, a man in total command of his art. The SNJO, perhaps the finest band in Europe, gave Elling everything he could possibly desire of an ensemble. Well known names peppered the sections: Tommy Smith and his fellow reeds of  Konrad Wisznieski, Martin Kershaw, Paul Towndrow and Bill Fleming; trombone men Chris Grieve and the hirsute Michael Owers; Tom MacNiven and Cameron Jay (trumpets) and one of the best rhythm sections around led by Brian Kellock (piano), new boy Joe Williamson (guitar), the very hirsute Calum Gourlay (double bass) and the pocket battleship, drummer Alyn Cosker.
Witchcraft, a dynamic Luck Be a Lady, The Good Life, Nelson Riddle’s arrangement of All or Nothing, then, same arranger, Summer Wind (the rich baritone simply wonderful), every tune out of this world. How about Night and Day? A favourite tune, magnificent! The interval consensus: magnificent! Collective surprise at, and admiration of, Elling’s stamina. Second set…
Altoist Martin Kershaw stepped out front to solo on a Lawrence Hobgood arrangement of Come Fly with Me (very much Elling’s personal take on the timeless number). You Make Me Feel So Young (the excitement was palpable, your reviewer’s notes: WOW!). Konrad Wiszniewski impressed as Elling implored: Get Me to the Church on Time. This being a Sinatra (Elling/Sinatra) show, My Kind of Town was kinda inevitable, and none the worse for it.
The orchestra performed brilliantly (as one has come to expect), Tommy Smith for once played second fiddle (tenor sax) to Kurt Elling. A word about Joe Williamson (guitar), a young musician studying in Scotland, schooled in the Tees Jazz Delta, it was just great that Smith informed the young man he was ready to make his debut with the band at Sage Gateshead. The north east of England is a hotbed of talent, no doubt about it. A new arrangement, again a personal take by Elling, of I Only Have Eyes For You featured a superb flugelhorn solo by Lorne Cowieson. Solo spots were limited as the focus of attention for much of the evening was, rightly, on the magnetic Kurt Elling.
Kurt Elling is a superstar, Frank Sinatra is a legend. Different eras, differing styles. One should avoid comparison, they stand alone as imperious performers. Gig of the Year. 
Russell.
Kurt Elling (vocals), The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra: George Duncan MC,
Tommy Smith MD (tenor saxophone, flute), Konrad Wiszniewski (tenor saxophone, clarinet & flute), Martin Kershaw (alto saxophone, clarinet & flute), Paul Towndrow (alto saxophone & flute), Bill Fleming (baritone saxophone & flute), Tom Walsh (trumpet), Tom MacNiven (trumpet), Cameron Jay (trumpet), Lorne Cowieson (trumpet & flugelhorn), Chris Greive (trombone), Kieran McLeod (trombone), Phil O’Malley (trombone), Michael Owers (trombone), Brian Kellock (piano), Joe Williamson (guitar), Calum Gourlay (double bass) & Alyn Cosker (drums)

3 comments :

Debra Milne (on F/b) said...

I think Russell might have enjoyed the gig!

Kath Jobes said...

Yeah so much that Elling got an additional L in his name lol ;-)

Lance said...

Well spotted Ms Spell-Check - you've got the job(es). Now corrected.

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