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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!).
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

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

CD Review: Kai Hoffman - Luckiest Girl Alive

Kai Hoffman (vcl); Dan Faulkner (ten/bar); Liam Dunachie (pno); Simon Picton (gtr); Dave O'Brien (bs); Mez Clough (dms) + Nina Ferro (backing vcls on 3 tks.)
(Review by Lance).
I guess that when I started this blog back in 2008 I would probably never have visualised reviewing a rendition of Lucky Lips! However, this isn't Cliff Richards - no sirree! London based American Kai Hoffman eschews the bland approach of Sir Clifford and treats it in the manner it's creators [Leiber & Stoller] and Ruth Brown intended. ie a doo-wop/rock and roll/rhythm and blues approach. Ms Hoffman is a blonde, retro dressed. female Louis Jordan, totally au fait with the '50s - the era that the songs, including her own present day compositions, derive from.
If your formative years were touched by Wynona Carr, Annisteen Allen, Lillian Briggs, Wanda Jackson, Louis Jordan or even Bill Haley you'll dig these versions.
Hoffman brings them to life, capturing the era and making them as valid in 2015 as they were in 1950.
As regards jazz, just listen to the tenor of Faulkner - he never blew like this in whichever one of the Glenn Miller bands he plays with! Bassist O'Brien, lynchpin of the Basin Street Brawlers, didn't have far to walk and Simon Picton is one of those guitarists drenched in the blues. Pianist Dunachie is another who plays like he was born in a barroom on the corner of 12th Street and Vine whilst Mez Clough may one day back beat the world. Just for good measure, Nina Ferro - a star in her own right - helps out with the backing vocals.
Yes Kai's got herself kwight a Kombo!
Oh! and, if you happen to pass by Vivien of Holloway's emporium at number 291 on the road of the same name, you girls too can dress as stunningly as Kai does! 
Tracks: Lucky Lips; Jump Jack Jump**; It's Raining Outside**; The Night is Never Long Enough; Luckiest Girl Alive*; TV is the Thing This Year; Star of Fortune; Late Night Joints*; I Want You to be my Baby***; Seat of your Pants*; Lies Lies Lies; Hot Rockin' Diva*; Deep Sea Ball; Drown in my Own Tears.
The launch party is at Ronnie's on Oct. 1. I was at Kai's last one and it was quite a brawl. Sadly I can't make this one but I'll be there in spirit (or wine) and playing the album.
Available itunes or from www.kaihoffman.co.uk
* Hoffman originals.
** Wynona Carr comps.
*** Jon Hendricks.
Lance.

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