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Bebop Spoken There

Béla Fleck: “ And that's the great thing about live performances, you take people on a journey. It doesn't have to be like something else they've heard. It's not supposed to be". DownBeat, April, 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

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

Thu 28: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 28: Gateshead Jazz Appreciation Society @ Gateshead Central Library, Gateshead. 2:30pm.
Thu 28: Richard Herdman Quartet @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 28: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Guests: Josh Bentham (alto sax); Alan Marshall (tenor sax); Neil Brodie (trumpet); Adrian Beadnell (bass); Graham Thompson (keys); Steve Hunter (drums).

Fri 29: FILM: Soul @ The Forum Cinema, Hexham. 12:30pm. Jazz-themed film animation.
Fri 29: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 29: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 29: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 29: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 6:00pm. Free. POSTPONED!
Fri 29: Thundercat @ Newcastle City Hall.
Fri 29: John Logan @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 30: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 30: Pete Tanton’s Cuba Libre @ Whitley Bay Library, York Road, Whitley Bay. 8:00pm.

Sun 31: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay Metro Station. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 31: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields NE30 1HJ. 3:00pm. Free. Lambert, Alan Law & Paul Grainger.
Sun 31: Sid Jacobs & Tom Remon @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. USA/London jazz guitar duo.
Sun 31: Bellavana @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

April
Mon 01: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 02: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Dean Stockdale, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 03: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 03: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 03: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

CD Review: Blind Monk Trio – coulrophobia

Bob Whittaker (tenor saxophone), Hugo Harrison (double bass) & Johnny Hunter (drums)
(Review by Russell)
Don’t’ fear them, clowns that is. The Liverpool-based Blind Monk Trio appears fearless in its direct, take-no-prisoners assault on the senses. The trio’s 2014 recording is a roller coaster fairground ride of relentless full-on tenor to swashbuckling swing time invention to manic Balkan episodes. Eight compositions – with a total running time of just short of forty minutes – serve as an accurate summation of the live experience.
Bob Whittaker’s hard-edged tenor playing is matched by the rattling poly-rhythmic drum style of the in demand Johnny Hunter and right in the middle of them is the let-me-swing double bassist Hugo Harrison. A tight rope tension is maintained throughout with several attempted break-out swing sections discouraged by a self-imposed three line whip. Titles (all written in lower case) are variously playful – empire state of mime – and quite simply curious – count backwards from ten. A tentative, exploratory tenor opening on (the lower case) set to stun! is an exception to the norm hinting at a free workout before discipline is once again imposed. All tracks are collaborative compositions with, undoubtedly, untold hours of rehearsal time devoted to honing an impressive group sound.
Those familiar with the sound of Taupe and Dead Hedge Trio will be keen to check out a trio cut from the same northern rock face.
Russell.
coulrophobia by Blind Monk Trio is available at www.blindmonktrio.com      

1 comment :

Jan Brooker said...

"Eight compositions .... serve as an accurate summation of the live experience" - sometimes good live bands find it hard to capture their sound on recordings. My view, this is the case here. In Liveerpool we're priviledged to be able to catch them 'live' regularly and in another incarnation [as Marley Chingus] with the addition of Misha Grey on keyboards [both with shifting personnel] and as the Marley Chingus Explosion with sitting-in musicians. Friday night bliss.

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