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Bebop Spoken There

Ambrose Akinmusire: “ I am certainly always aware of what the masses are doing. And when I see too many people going one way, I'm going another way - even when I don't know what's over that way". DownBeat, March, 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

Tue 19: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Tim Johnston.

Wed 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 20: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 20: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 21: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 21: Castillo Neuvo Trio + Conor Emery & His ‘Bones Band @ The Grove, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £10.00. (£7.00. student).
Thu 21: Remi Banklyn + Chris Corcoran Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.50. Chicago blues. An International Guitar Foundation promotion.
Thu 21: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Ragtime piano.
Thu 21: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 22: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 22: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 22: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 22: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 22: Nauta + Remy CB + Last Orders @ Hoochie Coochie, Newcastle. 8:30pm (7:30pm doors). Free.
Fri 22: Vasilis Xenopoulos-Paul Edis Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £15.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 22: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 23: Jambone @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Free (ticketed). End of term performance in the Northern Rock Foundation Hall.
Sat 23: Milne-Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 23: Red Kites Jazz @ Rowlands Gill Community Centre NE39 1JB. 7:00pm. Tickets: £12.00. (gibsidecommunityfarm@gmail.com). A ‘Build a Barn’ fundraiser. BYOB, tea/coffee available.
Sat 23: New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00. + bf (book in person at venue - no booking fee!). Featuring pianist Martin Litton.
Sat 23: Pete Tanton’s Cuba Libre @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 24: Musicians Unlimited @ Park Inn, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 24: Luis Verde @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. Verde (alto sax); Joe Steels (guitar); John Pope (double bass); John Hirst (drums). Alto sax brilliance!
Sun 24: Elsie Franklin @ The Globe, Newcastle. 3:00pm. £10.00. Country blues. An International Guitar Foundation promotion.
Sun 24: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay Metro Station. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: Las Vegas Live with the Rat Pack @ The Forum, Billingham.
Sun 24: Ian Millar & Dominic Spencer @ Otterburn Memorial Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Sun 24: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Note start time - 7:00pm.
Sun 24: Bold Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 25: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

The Glenn Miller Orchestra (Ray McVay, MD) @ Sage Gateshead – Dec 29

(Review by Russell).
The UK Glenn Miller Orchestra directed by Ray McVay returned to Sage Gateshead to play a sold out matinee show. All 1700 seats occupied a matter of days after Christmas was a sure sign of the band’s popularity and, of course, the enduring popularity of their raison d’êtré – Major Glenn Miller.
The tunes, largely associated with Miller, together with a smattering of other numbers, were instantly recognisable, such was, and is, the popular entertainment status of Miller. Caribbean Clipper, I Got a Gal in Kalamazoo, Jumpin’ at the Woodside, number after number, the audience knew them all. The focal point of the performance shifted from a vocalist to a vocalist, to a vocal troupe to a dance troupe. Catherine Sykes, a graduate of Leeds College of Music, shared the spotlight with veteran Colin Anthony. Sykes sang All of Me, Anthony A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square. Class performers fronting a big band, they vacated the stage returning from time to time to sing some more favourites.
The Uptown Hall Gang, the band within a band originally created by Mel Powell after Miller's disappearance, played some small group swing, sang a tune or two, and the Jiving Lindy Hoppers bounced onto the stage to inject some vim and pep to proceedings. They had the jive, Jack, and they gave the boys in the band an opportunity to have a blow.    
American Patrol – this was the AAF stuff – and Minnie the Moocher (Alan Berlyn blew trumpet out front), then String of Pearls, then When Johnny Comes Marchin’ Home. The realisation that this was a genuine ‘greatest hits’ affair struck home. MD Ray McVay – a Miller enthusiast if ever there was one – frequently introduced numbers with ‘Another million selling number…’ Second set, more of the same, and no one was complaining! St Louis Blues March, Chattanooga Choo Choo (featuring the Moonlight Serenaders), then some jazz, yes jazz, with Jersey Bounce and the excellent dance steps of the Jiving Lindy Hoppers.
Moonlight Serenade…cheers rang to the echo (‘Aye, when I was a lad…’). And then for something completely different…Colin Anthony paid tribute to Sinatra. Ah, this was an unexpected bonus. A medley comprising classic 50s material (Come Fly with Me) and a great take on New York, New York (perhaps not Ol’ Blue Eyes’ favourite) heard McVay’s band at its best behind the saloon bar vocal ‘These little town blues…
There was more. Pennsylvania 65000 (inevitably), then Runnin’ Wild with guess who? The Jiving Lindy Hoppers, of course! Two and a half hours of music, Sage Gateshead’s audience went home happy, very happy. In the Mood sent them on their way. So, an entertaining afternoon, a trip down memory lane for those who were there first time around, and, for the jazz heads, an education.        
Russell
Ray McVay (MD), Colin Anthony (vocals), Catherine Sykes (vocals), Andy Potts (alto saxophone), Simon Meredith (alto saxophone), Martin Dunsdon (tenor saxophone), Dan Faulkner (tenor saxophone), Loren Hignell (baritone & alto saxophone), Dave Ford (trumpet), Alan Berlyn (trumpet), Danny Hammerton (trumpet), John Hinch (trumpet), Dale Gibson Jnr (trombone), Ray Wordsworth (trombone), Cliff Hardie (trombone), Bruce Douglas (bass trombone), Bunny Thompson (piano), Paul Scott (double bass) & Bobby Cleall (drums); the Moonlight Serenaders; Uptown Hall Gang & the Jiving Lindy Hoppers

1 comment :

Liz said...

times like this when I wish I lived up there, good review Russell

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