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Bebop Spoken There

Kelly Sill: "Just because everyone is playing through the changes in the same time doesn't mean they're actually playing together" - (JazzTimes March/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

15260 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 279 of them this year alone and, so far, 92 this month (March 29).

From This Moment On ...

April

Sun 02: Smokin' Spitfires @ The Cluny. 12:45pm.
Sun 02: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 3:00pm.

Mon 03: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.

Tue 04: Paul Skerritt @ The Rabbit Hole, Hallgarth St., Durham DH1 3AT. 7:00pm. Paul Skerritt's (solo) weekly residency.
Tue 04: Jam session @ Black Swan, Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. House trio: Bradley Johnston (guitar); Paul Grainger (double bass); Abbie Finn (drums).

Wed 05: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 05: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 05: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:00pm.
Wed 05: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thu 06: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 06: Thursday Night Prayer Meeting @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Donations. Feat. John Pope, Marie Shreer, John Garner.
Thu 06: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibtion Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Ragtime piano. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.
Thu 06: Darlington Big Band @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Note earlier start time.

Fri 07: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 07: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.
Fri 07: Gaz Hughes Trio @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm.
Fri 07: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Traveller's Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 07: Finntet + Zoë Gilby & Andy Champion @ Bobik's, Punch Bowl, Newcastle. 8:00pm. JNE.
Fri 07: TBA @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig. Blind Pig Blues Club.

Sat 08: Me Lost Me + Ceitidh Mac + Heather Ferrier @ Bobik's, Punch Bowl, Newcastle. 7:30pm. JNE.
Sat 08: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington Covered Market, Darlington DL1 5PN. 6:00pm. New venue, live jazz!
Sat 08: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00. RESCHEDULED from last week (Sat 01).
Sat 08: Robbie Reay @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Acoustic blues. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.
Sat 08: Anth Purdy @ Mr Tighe's, Bebside, Northumberland. 8:30pm.

Sunday, May 15, 2016

Anita Wardell @ The Globe - May 14.

Anita Wardell (vcl); Robin Aspland (pno); Paul Grainger (bs); Tristan Maillot (dms).
(Review by Lance).
The old adage that "Those that can do and those that can't teach" didn't apply here. Ms. Wardell does both better than anyone around, as any of the students who attended this weekend's jazz vocal course at the Globe will attest to. Indeed, if only 50% of her talent rubs off on those aspiring singers some of the more established names will soon be looking over their shoulders.
The Jazz Coop's HQ was understandably crowded although it has to be said that, with a couple of exceptions, the north-east 'jazz faithful' were prominent by their absence.
Their loss, poor souls!
Cathedral bells were tolling and our hearts sang on/Was it the spell of Paris or the April dawn?/Who knows if we shall meet again/But when the morning chimes ring sweet again... 
A verse I didn't recognise but the chorus I certainly did. I'll Be Seeing You. However, this was no Vera Lynn (bless her!) version but more Ella meets Betty Carter with a scat solo any horn player would be proud of -providing their fingers could move fast enough. Talking fingers - what piano playing from Robin Aspland! Is he the most underrated 88er in the UK? Undoubtedly!
Oscar Pettiford's Tricotism saw more vocal dynamics, Aspland again outstanding, Grainger still in the game and Maillot's brushwork exemplary. 
Ballad time. Young and Foolish. Why are the wannabees still singing Summertime and Funny Valentine when there are songs like this around? Wardell takes it to places where Edmund Hockridge would fear to tread, The phrasing, the choice, yet unexpected, intervals that the lady incorporates is further proof that we're in the presence of someone special.
Willow Weep For Me (Maillot on mallets); Jobim's Dreamer led to By the Light of the Silvery Moon which segued into What a Little Moonlight Can Do with more amazing scatting that left everyone breathless.
Time to top up the Gold Tankard. An appropriate beverage. On a night like this, silver or bronze was out of the question!
The second set opened up with All God's Chillun Got Rhythm, well maybe not all of 'em but certainly the four on stage have it in abundance! I've Never Been in Love Before. Then an emotive Some Other Time with just voice and piano. Anita dedicated this to Angela Elliott. She didn't elaborate and I wondered, sadly, if this was the Angela E who wrote for the blog in our early days? Angela lived in London, sang jazz and was also a published author. I hope not. (It wasn't!)
The Jon Hendricks lyric to Don't Getz Scared brought Annie Ross to mind and Oleo saw the night out. I should have left earlier but no way could I miss this, so taxi was ordered!
Lance

1 comment :

Jen said...

A spot on review Lance. Couldn't agree more with what you say. My favourite although hard to chose was Young and Foolish - brought tears to my eyes - so much emotion in Anita's voice.

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