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Bebop Spoken There

Branford Marsalis: "As ignorance often forces us to do, you make a generalisation about a musician based on one specific record or one moment in time." - (Jazzwise June 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

15491 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 512 of them this year alone and, so far, 133 this month (May 31).

From This Moment On ...

June

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.
Sun 04: Jam No. 18 @ Fabio's Bar, Saddler Street, Durham. 8:00pm. Free. All welcome. A Durham University Jazz Society event.

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

Tue 06: Paul Skerritt @ The Rabbit Hole, Hallgarth St., Durham DH1 3AT. 7:00pm. Paul Skerritt's (solo) weekly residency.
Tue 06: Jam session @ Black Swan, Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. House trio: Stu Collingwood (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Sid White (drums).

Wed 07: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 07: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 07: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:00pm.
Wed 07: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thu 08: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free. CANCELLED! BACK ON JUNE 15.
Thu 08: Easington Colliery Brass Band @ The Lubetkin Theatre, Peterlee. 7:00pm. £10.00.
Thu 08: Faye MacCalman + Blue Dust Archive @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Thu 08: Dilutey Juice + Ceramic @ The Ampitheatre, Sea Road, South Shields. 7:00pm. Free. A South Tyneside Festival event.
Thu 08: Lara Jones w. Vigilance State @ Lubber Fiend, Blandford Square, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Thu 08: Michael Littlefield @ the Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Country blues.
Thu 08: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Fri 09: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 09: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.
Fri 09: Castillo Nuevo @ Revolución de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30-8:30pm.
Fri 09: Emma Rawicz @ Sage Gateshead. 8:00pm.

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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