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Bebop Spoken There

David Hadju: "It was kind of a lightning bolt [seeing a photo of a hi-fi store that's now occupied by a phone store]. Everyone had hi-fi systems, now everyone has a phone" - (DownBeat May 2023).

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!"

Postage

15478 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 499 of them this year alone and, so far, 120 this month (May 27).

From This Moment On ...

May 2023

Tue 30: Paul Skerritt @ The Rabbit Hole, Hallgarth St., Durham DH1 3AT. 7:00pm. Paul Skerritt's (solo) weekly residency.
Tue 30: Big Chris Barber Band @ Whitley Bay Playhouse. 7:30pm.

Wed 31: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 31: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 31: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:00pm.
Wed 31: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

June
Thu 01: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 01: Thursday Night Prayer Meeting @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Donations.
Thu 01: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Ragtime piano. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.
Thu 01: Jake Leg Jug Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Thu 01: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Fri 02: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 02: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 02: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.
Fri 02: Joseph Carville Trio @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm.
Fri 02: Claire Martin & Her Trio @ The Witham, Barnard Castle. 7:30pm. £25.00., £20.00. Feat. Jim Mullen, Alex Garnett & Jeremy Brown.
Fri 02: Guy Davis + Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. Doors 7:30pm. Blues double bill.
Fri 02: Anders Ingram @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Blind Pig Blues Club. Country blues. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.

Sat 03: Newcastle Record Fair @ Northumbria University, Newcastle NE8 8SB. 10:00am-3:00pm. Admission: £2.00.
Sat 03: Pedigree Jazz Band @ St Augustine's Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm.
Sat 03: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. Tutor: Sue Ferris. £25.00. Enrol at: www.jazz.coop.
Sat 03: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 6:00pm. Free.
Sat 03: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 03: Papa G's Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.

Sun 04: Smokin' Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm.
Sun 04: Central Bar Quintet @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00-4:00pm. £5.00. The Central Bar Quintet plays Sonny Rollins' Saxophone Colossus. Featuring Lewis Watson.
Sun 04: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 3:00pm.
Sun 04: Struggle Buggy + Michael Littlefield @ Tyne Bar, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Acoustic blues.
Sun 04: Swinging at the Cotton Club: Harry Strutters' Hot Rhythm Orchestra @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.
Sun 04: Richard Jones Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 05: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Jam Session @ Jazz Café. February 16

Mark Williams (guitar), Paul Grainger (double bass) & Paul Wight (drums) + Bradley Johnston (guitar), Paul Gowland (alto), Duncan Walker (tenor), Michael Lamb (trumpet), George Anyfantis (piano) & Ian Forbes (drums)  
(Review by Russell)
It had the makings of a quiet night. The house trio opened with a few tunes, Mr Williams in for Mr Gilligan. There is no Greater Love the pick of the early numbers. Punters were thin on the ground. Things could only get better. That said, the jazz was top drawer.
Jam session regular Bradley Johnston, deserving of ‘associate’ membership of the house band, joined the trio to play Stella by Starlight. Great solo from BJ, sensitive brush work form Paul Wight. Falling Grace heard the two six-stringers complimenting one another. Mr Ian Forbes, one the great modern jazz drummers, arrived. Southpaw Wight offered to sit out and whilst Forbes turned the kit around Williams and Johnston played some jazz guitar. In a ‘don’t mind me’ quip Forbes said: Carry on duo-ing, I promise not to laugh.
The duo played All the Things You Are. Fabulous. They should play a duo gig at the Caff.
Mr Gowland, toting his alto, joined the party to play There Will Never Be Another You. A false start to Here’s That Rainy Day belied the wonderful second take. A seated BJ in Joe Pass mode made a bid for solo of the evening. In walked Strictly Smokin’ Michael Lamb. Beautiful Love was the call and it was Lamb who took it on. A good trumpet player on a jam session makes all the difference. BJ chipped in with another polished solo as George Anyfantis rattled a handful of the 88s. Former Durham University Big Band saxophonist Duncan Walker called in with his tenor to play All of Me and Autumn Leaves.
Audience numbers picked up. A party of first time visitors to Pink Lane knew they were listening to some seriously good stuff and, in time honoured fashion, the boys in the band left the best ‘til last. Horace Silver’s Nutville taken at a punishing pace – Messrs Grainger and Wight working like Trojans – encouraged Williams to tear it up, but that was nothing in comparison to the set closer. Mercy, Mercy, Mercy featured the usual round of solos with Mark Williams last to pick up the baton. Sco’s Piety Street groove sent the Irishman into overdrive. Audience and musicians alike could do no more than smile as the guitarist from the Emerald Isle went into orbit. Stunning. It was a good night at the Jazz Café after all.     
Russell.             

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