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Bebop Spoken There

Orrin Evans: “I’d like to see a younger audience and an audience that looks more like me at the clubs.” – (Down Beat November 2014).

Kevin Flanagan: "Besides, I'd got sick of playing jazz to people who looked like my father." - (Straight No Chaser Issue 0ne Summer 1988.)

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Today Saturday August 19

Afternoon
?????
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Evening
Lin Lee Wong (solo piano) - Cherry Tree, 9 Osborne Rd., Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2AE. 7:30pm. No cover charge.
Smokehouse Blues Band - Billy Bootleggers, 28 Nelson St., Newcastle NE1 5AN. 9pm. Free.
Sokool Band - The Globe, 11 Railway St., Newcastle NE4 7AD. 8pm. £5. Brenda Sokell w. quartet.
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Rendezvous Jazz - Durham Cathedral. 7:30pm. £12 (£10 - Friends of Durham Cathedral).
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To the best of our knowledge, details of the above events are correct but may be subject to alteration.

Thursday, October 22, 2015

RIP Mark Murphy

First Don Rendell and now Mark Murphy! I know your heroes don't live forever but two in one day! Mark passed away yesterday (October 21) leaving behind a legacy that should have been enormous but wasn't although, in artistic terms it was as big as Porter or Elling. He was the consummate jazz singer - he should have been playing stadiums, but I'm glad he wasn't on 9/11.  9/11 1984 that is.
On that Tuesday evening he was at the Corner House in Newcastle where, accompanied by the Willie Payne/Sid Warren Sextet, he gave one of the most memorable performances that venue had ever seen and, in that era, they'd seen plenty!
The concert was reviewed in Mark's Fanzine (if the word had been invented then!) Mark's Time by Bruce Brewer. The magazine was edited by Norbert Warner of Whitley Bay. Fortunately I have a copy of that mag (The official magazine of the Mark Murphy Appreciation Society) and re-reading it 31 years on brings the memories flooding back.
He really was the business.
I don't know if Norbert or Bruce are still around but I'd love to have their memories of a singer who was as unique as any of them - especially on that night in 1984.
In 2013 Debra M reviewed his vinyl EP tribute to Shirley Horn - A Beautiful Friendship.
Mark Murphy was 83.
Light a candle or drink a toast to The Man!
Obituary
Lance.
Farmer's Market/Again.
at

4 comments :

  1. Eric McKenzie Stutt (on F/b)Thursday, October 22, 2015 8:20:00 pm

    RIP Man one of my Favourite Singers!!

    ReplyDelete

  2. Oh, sad news indeed. He was wonderful

    ReplyDelete

  3. Norbert Warner is still around, I see his reviews on Amazon website.

    ReplyDelete

  4. Saw him at Camden's Jazz Cafe. Mesmerising ! An amazing singer ...

    ReplyDelete

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About this blog - contact details.

Bebop Spoken Here -- Here, being the north-east of England -- centred in the blues heartland of Newcastle and reaching down to the Tees Delta and looking upwards to the Land of the Kilt.
Not a very original title, I know; not even an accurate one as my taste, whilst centred around the music of Bird and Diz, extends in many directions and I listen to everything from King Oliver to Chick Corea and beyond. Not forgetting the Great American Songbook the contents of which has provided the inspiration for much great jazz and quality popular singing for round about a century.
The idea of this blog is for you to share your thoughts and pass on your comments on discs, gigs, jazz - music in general. If you've been to a gig/concert or heard a CD that knocked you sideways please share your views with us. Tell us about your favourites, your memories, your dislikes.
Lance (Who wishes it to be known that he is not responsible for postings other than his own and that he's not always responsible for them.)
Contact: lanceliddle@gmail.com I look forward to hearing from you.

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