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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

17586 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 860 of them this year alone and, so far, 5 this month (Dec. 2).

From This Moment On ...

December

Mon 09: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 09: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Wheatsheaf, Benton Sq., Whitley Road, Palmersville NE12 9SU. Tel: 0191 266 8137. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 09: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30-8:30pm. Free.
Mon 09: Trio Grand @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free.
Mon 09: James Birkett Trio @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 10: Customs House Big Band @ All Saints Church Hall, Cleadon. 7:30pm. £6.00. The CHBB’s annual Xmas concert featuring Ruth Lambert. A BYOB gig!

Wed 11: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Cath Stephens’ improvisation workshop @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 4:30-6:00pm. Collaborative group focusing on vocal improvisations.
Wed 11: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 11: The Tannery Jam Session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Second Wednesday in the month.
Wed 11: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 12: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Spanish City, Whitley Bay. 12 noon. £27.00. (inc. three -course meal).
Thu 12: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:00-6:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Thu 12: Stuart Turner @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 12: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesborough. 8:30pm. Free. Guests: Jeremy McMurray (keys); Mark Toomey (alto sax); Donna Hewitt (tenor sax); Kevin Eland (trumpet); Ron Smith (bass).

Fri 13: Dean Stockdale Trio @ Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 13: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Bellavana @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 3:00-5:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Joe Steels Trio @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Customs House Big Band @ Stocksfield Community Association. 7:00pm. Featuring Ruth Lambert.
Fri 13: Paul Edis & Friends: A Jazzy Xmas @ St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook. 7:30pm. £15.00.
Fri 13: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £19.00. + bf. First night of two.
Fri 13: Ransom Van @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 13: Boys of Brass @ Hoochie Coochie, Newcastle. 9:00pm. £10.00.

Sat 14: Jambone @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:15pm. Free but ticketed.
Sat 14: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm.
Sat 14: Red Kites Jazz @ Staiths Café, Autumn Dr., Gateshead. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 14 Lapwing Jazz Trio @ Three Sheets to the Wind, Alnwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 14: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £19.00. + bf. Second night of two.
Sat 14: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 15: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 12 noon. £8.50. Xmas party feat. Musicians Unlimited + Customs House Big Band. SOLD OUT!
Sun 15: Paul Edis & Friends: A Jazzy Xmas @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 2:00pm.
Sun 15: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Mitch Laddie Band @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Superb blues power trio.
Sun 15: Leeway @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 15: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Paul Edis & Friends: A Jazzy Xmas @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.
Sun 15: Alligator Gumbo @ 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

Sunday, December 20, 2015

Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ The Black Swan – Dec 19

(Review by Russell/Photos courtesy of Ken Drew)
Take two: a second consecutive night at the Black Swan for the most popular big band around. A second consecutive full house…quite an achievement! The basement venue afforded the band the luxury of setting up without having to squeeze brass, reeds and a rhythm section into the usual small jazz venue with the dimensions of a telephone box. All seats were taken half an hour before the start, latecomers stood to one side. Drinks orders were of the ‘precariously-balanced tray snaking its way through the throng’ kind. The management of Newcastle Arts Centre couldn’t be other than delighted. A success every which way and MD Michael Lamb had yet to strike up the band!
Right on time the band hit the stage. We Three Kings proffered gifts; several big-hitters announced their arrival – Gowland, Jedrzejewski, Toms, Summers. Ding Dong Merrily on High (spot the seasonal theme) showcased the brass boys on a samba feel. The band boasts not one but two singers. They stepped forward as climate-change deniers – Baby, It’s Cold Outside. A week before Christmas and it was shirt-sleeve weather but Lindsay Hannon and F’reez did their best to convince us otherwise! The luminescent Ms Hannon stayed on to dream of a White Christmas and warn of That Ole Devil Called Love.
The three part Film Noir suite departed from the festive fayre to conclude the first set in full-on jazz mode. Engrossing stuff with Keith ‘Strictly Smokin’’ Robinson on alto.
The interval: an earlier global warming torrent had pushed out over the North Sea as one or two gig goers and musicians took the evening air. The thought occurred that down the lane Ms Ruth Lambert was holding court alongside pianist Alan Law at the Jazz Café. A review by Kath J to follow.
As with the first, the second set began right on time. Altoist Robinson had all but stolen the show first set, Steve Summers (soprano) set about staking a claim to the second set on Greta’s Groove, with more from Pav, guitar and Graham Don (piano). F’reez – not heard to best effect due to being way down in the mix – upped-it on Higher Ground. Had space permitted dancers would have been on the floor. The luminescent Ms Hannon returned to sing That Ole’ Black Magic, I’ve Got You Under My Skin and, inevitably, Santa Baby. A Strictly Smokin’ gig is always an occasion. Soloists pepper the sections – Kieran Parnaby (trombone), bassist Michael Whent stepped up, the assured Pete Tanton (trumpet/flugel), to name but three. This Black Swan two-nighter has become a highlight in the calendar. A three-nighter in 2016 could be on the cards, or, perhaps a Saturday matinee show could work, aimed at a younger (musician?) audience. If MD Michael Lamb puts his mind to it you never know.
The Strictly Smokin’ Big Band is an unalloyed success story: band management, on-time presentation, Guy Swinton’s excellent MC skills (and a fine drummer, to boot), the boys in the rhythm section, all and sundry make it the band it is. Your next opportunity to hear the Strictly Smokin’ is at a post-Christmas dance (yes, dance) gig at Hoochie Coochie on Tuesday 29 December. 100% recommended.
Russell.
Michael Lamb (trumpet & MD), Pete Tanton, Gordon Marshall, Dick Stacey (trumpets & flugelhorns); Kieran Parnaby, John Flood, Mark Ferris, David Barnes (trombones); Paul Gowland, Jamie Toms, Steve Summers, Keith Robinson, Laurie Rangecroft (reeds); Graham Don (piano), Pawel Jedrzejewski (guitar), Michael Whent (bass), Guy Swinton (drums), Lindsay Hannon (vocals) & F’reez (vocals)

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