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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 Friday August 18

Afternoon
Rendezvous Jazz - The Black Horse, Front St., Monkseaton, Whitley Bay NE25 8DP. 1pm. Free.
Levee Ramblers New Orleans Quartet - Tynemouth Metro Station, Station Tce., Tynemouth NE30 4RE. 1pm. Free.
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Evening
Kentucky Cowtippers - Billy Bootleggers, 28 Nelson St., Newcastle NE1 5AN. 9pm. Free.
Ray Johnson & Richard Herdman - Prohibition Bar, Arch 3, Brandling St., Gateshead NE8 2BA. 8pm.
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Steve Bone - Al Forno, 81 Skinnergate, Darlington DL3 7LX. 7pm.
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To the best of our knowledge, details of the above events are correct but may be subject to alteration.

Friday, January 08, 2016

RIP Kitty Kallen


Kitty Kallen, one of the last of the great big band singers died yesterday (January 7). Most people remember her from her No. 1 UK single Little Things Mean a Lot but it was her earlier recording with Harry James of I'm Beginning to See the Light that first drew her to my attention. It was the first time I'd heard the song. It also had a catchy guitar intro and coda by Allan Reuss.
Kallen started out with Jack Teagarden and, as well as James, sang with Jimmy Dorsey, Artie Shaw, Bobby Sherwood and many other name bands before taking off on her successful solo career. Even today the song Little Things Mean a Lot is used in an ITV car insurance commercial albeit not by Kitty.
Kitty Kallen was 94.
Sadly missed.
Obituary.
Lance.
at

2 comments :

  1. I loved Kitty Kallen, my era!

    ReplyDelete

  2. Yes, what memories! Interestingly listening to a Kenny Baker version of I'm Beginning to See the Light he picks up on one of Harry James' phrases. Re Little Things Mean a Lot; as a callow youth, a girl friend was crooning in my ear Little Things Mean a Lot. When she got to the line "Say I Look Nice When I'm Not" I inadvertently said "You look nice" - it took awhile for the bruises to heal...!

    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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