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Bebop Spoken There

Abbie Finn: "Even though there's a lot of great work being done to promote women in jazz, I still come up against some attitudes! I pulled up at a recording session with my drums in the car and the studio owner said, 'I'm sorry, this space is reserved for the drummer!'" - (Jazzwise April 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

15229 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 248 of them this year alone and, so far, 61 this month (March 20).

From This Moment On ...

March

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Traveller's Rest, Cockerton. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public). Note change of venue - this week only.
Wed 22: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:00pm.
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thu 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 4:00-6:00pm. Free.
Thu 23: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Bar Loco, Newcasatle. From 6:30pm 'til late. Free. Newcastle University Jazz Orchestra jam session. All welcome (students & non-students).
Thu 23: Kerrin Tatman + John Garner & John Pope @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Thu 23: Sunna Gunnlaugs & Julia Hülsmann @ Sage Gateshead. 8:00pm. A two-piano gig. A Sage Gateshead-JNE promotion.
Thu 23: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Ragtime piano.
Thu 23: Sleep Suppressor @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £10.00., £8.00. adv. Upstairs.
Thu 23: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.
Fri 24: FILM: Mo' Better Blues @ Forum Cinema, Hexham. 7:00pm.
Fri 24: Ian Millar & Dominic Spencer @ Scarth Hall, Staindrop, Co. Durham. 8:00pm. £10.00.
Fri 24: Archipelago + Bulbils @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.

Sat 25: Vermont Big Band @ Walker Community Centre, Walker, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Fundraiser for Benfield Juniours Football Club. Hot food available, BYOB.
Sat 25: John Logan & Friends @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Rat Pack, Motown etc. 8:00pm. Free (donations).

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited @ Park Inn, Hartlepool. 1:00pm.
Sun 26: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 3:00pm.
Sun 26: Outlines @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. JNE promotion (upstairs).

Mon 27: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.

Tue 28: Paul Skerritt @ The Rabbit Hole, Hallgarth St., Durham DH1 3AT. 7:00pm. Paul Skerritt's (solo) weekly residency.
Tue 28: Sanaz Lavasani Trio @ Black Swan, Newcastle Arts Centre. 8:00pm. £12.00 (£10.00. adv).

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Darlington Jazz Festival: Dennis Rollins & Al Wood with the Durham Alumni Big Band & Durham County Youth Big Band. April 23.

(Review by Russell/Photos courtesy of Shaune Eland)
Darlington Jazz Festival’s evening concert in the grand surroundings of Central Hall in the Dolphin Centre attracted a sell-out crowd. Chandeliers, linen table cloths, the scene set, a frisson of anticipation in the air. Penguin suits and gowns the dress code, Durham Alumni assembled on stage ready to go. The orchestra’s guest MD for the evening, Al Wood, gave the command: Strike Up the Band. Mr Wood is an authority on big bands. Basie’s recording of I Left My Heart in San Francisco was on his set list, so too Emily and he invited star guest Dennis Rollins to join the band on this one.
Just Friends (a hall full of them) to I Love Paris, along the way, loving references to the arrangers, composers and band leaders – Lennie Niehaus, Bob Florence, Stan Kenton – Wood so admires and behind him a magnificent big band, the Durham Alumni Big Band.
A big band fanatic of many years confided: That’s a trumpet section to die for absolutely right, sir. A five-strong section with Tom Hill lead trumpet for the occasion, they were, to use a phrase Matt Roberts is fond of, killing!  Trombone star Dennis Rollins rejoined the party to close the first set with Peanut Vendor. A glance at our big band fanatic, the boys in the trumpet section were about to party. Kenton’s glorious dissonant trumpet voicings were nailed time and again. Tom ‘Top Cs’ Hill led with distinction, a dead-eye precision. The section, none better, namely Jonny Dunn, Shaune Eland, Ian Robinson and Matthew Robinson. A roaring big band with a killer trumpet section. Mr J Dunn, of said section, was so pleased with their efforts he looked along the line at his section mates and duly punched the air! A moment of great satisfaction for him and those of us in the audience.
The glamorous Lindsay Hannon graced the stage to sing a couple of numbers with the band. First, You Took Advantage of Me and later Cheek to Cheek. The PA hired for the occasion enabled Hannon to be heard to best effect. Nerves of steel, Ms Hannon sang to the hall, a great performance. Well done, Lindsay!
Wood introduced Billy May’s arrangement of You Turned the Tables on Me, Alex Baker (tenor) and Rollins had some fun on Bebop Charlie and the band’s regular MD Shaune Eland stepped out front to put his charges through Fascinating Rhythm. To end a superb evening Al Wood suggested we went home on an unusual closing number. Guest Dennis Rollins sent us on our way with Misty. The crowd demanded more and their reward was a rousing One o’clock Jump.                          
Dennis Rollins (trombone) & Al Wood (MD & baritone saxophone) 
Durham Alumni Big Band: Alex Baker (tenor), Susanne Hewitt (tenor), Steve McGarvie (alto & soprano), Kirsty Dunn (alto), Alan Thompson (baritone); Jonny Dunn, Shaune Eland, Tom Hill, Ian Robinson, Matthew Robinson (trumpets); David Hamilton (bass trombone), Andrew Kirtley, Alastair Wood, Terry O’Hern (trombones); Dean Stockdale (piano), Shaun Henderson (guitar), Amy Baker (bass), Stephen Fletcher (drums) & Lindsay Hannon (vocals)
Earlier the Durham County Youth Big Band opened proceedings with a fantastic set of their own. Conducted by Shaune Eland, the young guns played so well. Cantaloupe Island, Boplicity, This Can’t Be Love – great tunes, played with no little skill. Al Wood, playing baritone, joined the band to romp through The Creep. Mr Wood spoke warmly of his admiration for the young musicians on the stand. They’re the stars of tomorrow.   
Russell.
Thanks to Shaune Eland for supplying the photographs:
(Top) Dennis Rollins (tmb) with the Durham Alumni Big Band. (Middle) Alumni trumpet section. (Bottom) Durham County Youth Big Band w. Al Wood (bar) & Shaune Eland (md).

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