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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.

Sunday, June 19, 2016

Alice Grace Quartet @ The Empty Shop, Durham - June 16

Alice Grace (vocal); Pete Gilligan (piano); Paul Grainger (bass); Russ Morgan (drums).
(Review by Steve T)
Lance did a comprehensive appraisal of an Alice Grace gig earlier in the week so you've had the older man viewpoint, this is the middle aged account, and you'll soon have the young man’s version of her Sunday night quintet gig at Blaydon from Russell.  
It was the first chance we have had to 'welcome' Alice to the Empty Shop and we weren't sure what the crowd would be like with students swanning about in their nice gowns, some mid-exams and others gone home, but we had a decent crowd of about thirty, enough to make it look busy.
Russell was a no-show due to a big band night nearer to home with the added attraction of making big band nut Tony jealous, but leaving me with the problem of where to get some paper; Ealesy, but no more than two flyers allowed!
I was taken by how confident, comfortable and relaxed Alice Grace is, though it seems she's been doing this for years. The rapport with her audience was easy and I loved the way she bossed the men in grey suits about. Not just a front person, this really was her band.
Opener Weaver of Dreams revealed a lovely clear voice which became even lovelier and clearer after a little twiddle of her amp before song two. Another spellbound audience and, once again, the Empty Shop couldn't believe its luck. Appropriate silence maintained at all times and solo applause intact and Tony, and this has very much become his night, wouldn't have it any other way. 
Her singing struck me as note perfect, husky when required and able to summon vibrato where necessary. Oozing style, class and sophistication, the North East has another superstar Jazz singer. She even wrote lyrics for a Chick Corea piece; is there no end to her talents?
When I lived in a nurses home (or was it a nursing home?), Thursday night was big night out but I would always stay in to watch politics and, following the shocking events of Thursday (and I'm no fan of politicians), I planned to leave during the break to get home for Question Time, but didn't dare miss anything. During the interval, the lady herself sat with us but all I could say was 'welcome'.
Highlight of the night for me was Until You Come Back To Me, I think a Stevie Wonder song but I play it by Lady Soul. A little tapping or knocking wouldn't go amiss but that's as critical of the night as I can get.
The men in grey suits were exemplary, as usual, particularly Russ playing with his hands, taking it up switching to sticks, which I love, but it was her night, they knew it and didn't mind one bit.
I was going to say tata but knew that all I'd manage would be 'welcome', so I left.
(NB. only avid viewers of 2 1/2 Men will have the first idea what I'm on about).
My intention was that this was going to be a Durham double header, with Swing Manouche the next day, but was scuppered by the arrival of Mr Edis senior at the Gala.
Working title was to be 'Beauty and the Beast' but I point blank refuse to divulge which was which so don't even ask. No.
The only thing I’d like to add re the Gala is pah! - How do you spell pah? Another string to add to the bow of Edis junior; a ringer hustling us all to believe he's an alright clarinet player. Word is on the street (52nd that is, or is it somewhere in Paris?) Return to Forever have agreed to reform with Sonny Rollins on tenor, but only if Lord Edis will play clarinet.
Steve T

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