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Bebop Spoken There

Kurt Elling: ''There's something to learn from every musician you play with''. (DownBeat, December 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

17630 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 904 of them this year alone and, so far, 49 this month (Dec. 20).

From This Moment On ...

December

Fri 20: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 20: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 20: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 1:00-3:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 20: Baghdaddies @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 20: Smokin’ Spitfires @ Platform 1, East Bedlington Community Centre. 7:00pm.
Fri 20: Pete Tanton’s Christmas @ 1719, Hendon, Sunderland. 7:30pm. CANCELLED!
Fri 20: Alligator Gumbo @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 20: Abbie Finn’s Finntet @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 20: Brass Fiesta @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 10:30pm. Free.

Sat 21: Lindsay Hannon Quartet @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £15.00. ‘Swinging with Christmas Songs’.
Sat 21: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 21: Jackson’s Wharf Xmas Party @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 7:00pm. Free. Featuring the New ’58 Jazz Collective.
Sat 21: Brass Fiesta @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 10:30pm. Free.

Sun 22: Hot Club du Nord @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £15.00. + bf. Xmas party. SOLD OUT!
Sun 22: Red Kites Jazz @ Gibside Chapel, nr. Rowlands Gill. 1:00pm. Admission charge applies.
Sun 22: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 22: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: Revolutionaires @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Superb rhythm & blues outfit.
Sun 22: Laurence Harrison, Paul Grainger & Mark Robertson @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Line-up TBC.
Sun 22: The Globe Xmas Party @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Live music (musicians TBC).
Sun 22: Ray Stubbs R & B All-Stars @ Zerox, Sandhill, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors).

Mon 23: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Wheatsheaf, Benton Sq., Whitley Road, Palmersville NE12 9SU. Tel: 0191 266 8137. 1:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Mon 23: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 4:00pm. Free.
Mon 23: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Mon 23: Milne-Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.

Tue 24: Lindsay Hannon & Mark Williams @ Ernest, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 11:00am-1:00pm. Free.
Tue 24: Paul Skerritt @ Mambo Wine & Dine, South Shields. 1:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.

Wed 25: Wot? No jazz!

Thu 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free. TBC.
Thu 26: The Boneshakers @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. The 17th annual Boneshakers’ Shindig.

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

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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