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Bebop Spoken There

Ambrose Akinmusire: “ I am certainly always aware of what the masses are doing. And when I see too many people going one way, I'm going another way - even when I don't know what's over that way". DownBeat, March, 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

16287 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 169 of them this year alone and, so far, 41 this month (Mar 18).

From This Moment On ...

March

Tue 19: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Tim Johnston.

Wed 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 20: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 20: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 21: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 21: Castillo Neuvo Trio + Conor Emery & His ‘Bones Band @ The Grove, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £10.00. (£7.00. student).
Thu 21: Remi Banklyn + Chris Corcoran Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.50. Chicago blues. An International Guitar Foundation promotion.
Thu 21: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Ragtime piano.
Thu 21: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 22: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 22: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 22: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 22: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 22: Nauta + Remy CB + Last Orders @ Hoochie Coochie, Newcastle. 8:30pm (7:30pm doors). Free.
Fri 22: Vasilis Xenopoulos-Paul Edis Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £15.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 22: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 23: Jambone @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Free (ticketed). End of term performance in the Northern Rock Foundation Hall.
Sat 23: Milne-Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 23: Red Kites Jazz @ Rowlands Gill Community Centre NE39 1JB. 7:00pm. Tickets: £12.00. (gibsidecommunityfarm@gmail.com). A ‘Build a Barn’ fundraiser. BYOB, tea/coffee available.
Sat 23: New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00. + bf (book in person at venue - no booking fee!). Featuring pianist Martin Litton.
Sat 23: Pete Tanton’s Cuba Libre @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 24: Musicians Unlimited @ Park Inn, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 24: Luis Verde @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. Verde (alto sax); Joe Steels (guitar); John Pope (double bass); John Hirst (drums). Alto sax brilliance!
Sun 24: Elsie Franklin @ The Globe, Newcastle. 3:00pm. £10.00. Country blues. An International Guitar Foundation promotion.
Sun 24: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay Metro Station. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: Las Vegas Live with the Rat Pack @ The Forum, Billingham.
Sun 24: Ian Millar & Dominic Spencer @ Otterburn Memorial Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Sun 24: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Note start time - 7:00pm.
Sun 24: Bold Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 25: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

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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