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Bebop Spoken There

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

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

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Jazz Co-op @ The Globe: Blue Jazz Sextet/Off Key - September 20

George Anyfantis (keys); Keith Barrett (guitar); Karen Rann (sop sax); Jeff Smith (ten sax); Dave Parker (bass); Mark Robertson (reader, guest drummer); Off Key (novel)
(Review by Ann Alex/Photo courtesy of Debra M)
It’s not often that a novel is part of a jazz band, but tonight it was the star of the show.  The second set consisted of relevant tunes, interspersed with readings from Mark, the author of Off Key, who hopped between the drum kit and the reading stool, even breaking into song during one of the readings, a well-sung snatch of Skylark.
This was a very enjoyable event, especially for those of us who’d read the novel, which is summed up well by the front cover description ‘The greatest story ever told about Love ...and Jazz (in Sunderland).’ I’d advise everyone not to miss out on this really good read, a love story with some pathos, and even a character called Crombie in one scene.
The readings were carefully arranged so that no spoilers were given. The members of the jazz band in the novel were described, hilarious episodes were read, such as the skeleton practical joke and the night the band played at a male strippers do.  Sadder pieces included a quarrel  that the lovers had about money.  The supporting music included such numbers as Scrapple From The Apple; Perdido; Blue Trane; Work Song and a superb version of Skylark, with a soulful tenor opening from Jeff, flowing piano and suitably gentle drums.  The music was skilled, as always from this band, right through to the final chord played long and strong from everyone.
In the first set, the band did their stuff well on such numbers as Softly As In A Morning Sunrise; a wonderfully boppy I Mean You; Footprints; Take The A Train; Song For My Father; Tenor Madness.  Good solos all round.  I especially liked Footprints, which had an eastern type of feel, especially from the saxes, and was dream-like and even slightly disturbing.  The newer members of the band, Keith on guitar and George on keys, did themselves credit in their solos. Readers will have gathered that the Blue Jazz Quintet is now a sextet, and none the worse for that.
Ann Alex    

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