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Bebop Spoken There

Billy Boy Arnold: “As long as you don't think old you're good.” - DownBeat, December, 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!"

Simon Spillett: A lovely review from the dean of jazz bloggers, Lance Liddle...

Postage

16034 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 1041 of them this year alone and, so far, 73 this month (Nov. 27).

From This Moment On ...

December

Mon 04: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Mon 04: Northern Monkey Brass Band @ People’s Kitchen, Bath Lane, Newcastle. From 5:30pm. On-street gig supporting the work of the People’s Kitchen charity. Wrap up warm! Donate!
Mon 04: Michael Young Trio w Lindsay Hannon @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 7:00pm. Free.
Mon 04: James Birkett Trio @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £8.00.
Mon 04: Durham University Jazz Orchestra + Durham University Big Band @ Durham Castle DH1 3RW. 8:30pm. £6.00.; £5.00. concs; £4.00. DSM. ‘Jazzy Christmas’.

Tue 05: Customs House Big Band @ All Saints Church, Cleadon. 7:00pm. Concert in the church hall. BYOB.
Tue 05: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Sid White. The best free show in town!

Wed 06: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 06: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 8:00pm. Free. Note later start time, concert performance (open to the public).
Wed 06: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thu 07: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free CANCELLED!
Thu 07: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Spanish City, Whitley Bay, Newcastle. 12 noon - 4:00pm. £26.00 (inc 3-course meal in in St Mary's Lighthouse Suite). SOLD OUT!
Thu 07: Gateshead Jazz Appreciation Society @ Gateshead Central Library, Gateshead. 2:30pm. All welcome.
Thu 07: Thursday Night Prayer Meeting @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.Donations. Feat. Mark Sanders. CANCELLED!
Thu 07: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00. Downstairs.
Thu 07: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Fri 08: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 08: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 08: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.
Fri 08: Hayley's Little Big Band @ Woodland Village Hall, Bishop Auckland. 7:00pm. £12.00.
Fri 08: Sleep Suppressor + Redwell @ Head of Steam, Neville St., Newcastle. 8:00pm. £10.00. (£8.00. adv); £5.00. student.
Fri 08: Hot Club du Nord @ St Cuthbert's Church, Shadforth, Co. Durham.
Fri 08: Têtes de Pois + Nauta @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £8.00.

Sat 09: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Sat 09: Abbie Finn Trio @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm.
Sat 09: Hayley's Little Big Band @ Middleton & Todridge Village Hall, Morpeth. 7:30pm. £12.00., £6.00.
Sat 09: Paul Skerritt @ Slaley Hall, Hexham NE47 0BX. 7:30pm. From £42.00.

Sun 10: Musicians Unlimited’s Xmas Party with Zoe Gilby Quartet @ Park Inn, Hartlepool. MU 1:00-3:00pm; Zoë Gilby Quartet 4:00-6:00pm. Tickets: £7.50.
Sun 10: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00-4:00pm. Free.
Sun 10: Funk Soul Sista @ Stack, Seaburn. 5:00-7:00pm. Free.
Sun 10: Beth Clarke @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 10: Hayley's Little Big Band @ Whittingham Memorial Institute, Alnwick. 7:30pm. £12.00., £10.00.
Sun 10: Tele-Port @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Line-up inc. Zhenya Strigalev.

Saturday, March 12, 2016

Motherese + Zoe Gilby Trio + Jennifer Parry @ The Lit & Phil - March 8.

(Review/photos by Ken Drew)
The second in JNE’s Women Make Music series for 2016 performed at the Lit & Phil, Newcastle, on International Women’s Day featured three bands.   
Motherese  - Aby Vulliamy (v); Laura Cole (p); Maria Jardardottir (voice)
 A set comprising all-original music written for this Women Make Music performance (with an eye on taking it on tour I’d imagine).  Starting with ‘JFDI’ an expressive piece which although having quite a bouncy rhythm, had many lyrical sections, along with appropriate outbursts which conveyed the meaning of the title.  An excellent start by the trio, all on form from the start.
Second tune was by Laura (with assistance from others at home apparently).  A dramatic format from the piano providing a background to the random interjection of words. This piece came together very well, leaving a strong impression but with some eerie sounds too, leading to a quite intense section with Laura leading on the piano, then more vocalese culminating with a simple piano finale.   Quite an epic piece all round, making good use of the acoustic properties of the Grand piano.
Then a short improvised piece by all the women performers of the night ‘Unfinished Sentences’. Speaks for itself - a reflection of the domestic environment! 
Back to the trio, a folksy intro (really?  Yes it was) sang in perfect 3-part harmony.  Very lyrical with clear vocals segueing into an improvised section then back to the simple but lyrical 3-part harmony. Quite an extended complex piece, and well received!
Continuing with ‘Oops Dolores’ selected by the audience who took the offer of a ‘challenging’ piece from Aby.  Introduction by Aby providing a strong staccato riff on violin, then with vocal and piano accompaniment – part scored and part improvised.
And finally time for a concluding piece. The intro was a simple canon (3 part harmony again)  then over to the piano for the full introduction. Again, Laura really made use of the Grand – producing a beautiful sound both masterful and near-anthemic. The song was about ‘endings’ and ‘starting something new’, itself ending with the simplicity of the vocal harmony.   
A great set, warmly received and much appreciated by the audience.
This was preceded by Jennifer Parry with her experimental interactive Multi-Media performance.  The scene was set – a covered but self-illuminated figure knelt in front of the video screens, two displaying a journey along a railway line, the third a serene seaside beach scene.  The accompanying sound a mix of distant rain forests and its noisy inhabitants, overlaid with throbbing rhythms and vaguely tuneful riffs – ok, it’s a layered  soundscape with an occasional voice repeating ‘Is this  Real?’.   The figure rises, and slowly interacts with chosen members of the audience, whispering to each, and passing a ‘gift’ then moving on.  The music builds in intensity until finally the throbbing fades leaving only the sounds of the distant rain forest.  The final question remains – ‘Is this Real?.   The audience reflects on the 15-minute performance, then applauses enthusiastically.  Well, it makes you think!
The evening began with The Zoe Gilby Trio   Zoe Gilby (vocals); Mark Williams (guitar); Andy Champion (bass) with her own compositions, including new material for this performance.
Starting with ‘Breathing’, from her solo loop project, a very slow and sultry rendition with very clear vocals perfectly matching the acoustic setting of the Lit & Phil.  Then a short segue of vocalese and ethereal guitar sounds into ‘Believe’ (surely this is self-penned?).  Captivating!!!  Vocals sitting perfectly above the bass and guitar which provide a subtle but discernible   vehicle for the vocals to ride on. Yes - it was self-penned.  Nice one!!
Next, a cover version from a Peter Gabriel album (Scratch) ‘Mother of Violence’.  Again clear vocals above the bass (bowed) and guitar.  The final song was an extended version of ‘Red City’ starting with a seque-type introduction, setting the scene of the streets of Marrakech including the sounds of the street and distant wailings. Then into the song proper, at a wonderfully laid back pace, then the outro.  An absolute Class performance!!  This should be released as an EP, and then nominated for a Mercury Prize. 
 Overall, a superb acoustic performance by the trio, matching perfectly the acoustics of the Lit & Phil and the celebration of Women in Music.  With Zoe providing a variety of musical styles and constantly stretching out and pushing herself to find new bounds.  And it works!!
Ken Drew

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