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Bebop Spoken There

Art Blakey: "You [Bobby Watson] don't want to play too long, because you don't know they're clapping because they're glad you finished!" - (JazzTimes, Nov. 2019)..

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

15867 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 874 of them this year alone and, so far, 72 this month (Sept. 25).

From This Moment On ...

September

Tue 26: Paul Skerritt @ The Rabbit Hole, Hallgarth St., Durham DH1 3AT. 7:00pm. Paul Skerritt's (solo) weekly residency.

Wed 27: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 27: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 27: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thu 28: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 28: Alice Grace Quartet @ King's Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 28: Gateshead Jazz Appreciation Society @ Gateshead Central Library, Gateshead. 2:30pm. All welcome.
Thu 28: Faye MacCalman + Snape/Sankey @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Thu 28: Zoe Rahman @ Jesmond United Reformed Church, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:30pm. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Thu 28: '58 Jazz Collective @ Hops & Cheese, Hartlepool. 7:30pm.
Thu 28: Speakeasy @ Queen's Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm. £15.00. A Southpaw Dance Company presentation. Dance, audio-visuals, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, swing dancers etc.
Thu 28: Mick Cantwell Band @ Harbour View, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Ace blues band.
Thu 28: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Fri 29: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 29: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 29: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.

Sat 30: John Pope Quintet + Late Girl + Shapeshifters @ Bobik's, Jesmond, Newcastle.
Sat 30: Papa G's Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.

OCTOBER

Sun 01: Smokin' Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm.
Sun 01: Dulcie May Moreno sings Portrait of Sheila @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00. Moreno sings Sheila Jordan with Giles Strong, Mick Shoulder & John Bradford.
Sun 01: Middlesbrough Jazz & Blues Orchestra @ Saltburn Community Hall. 2:00pm.
Sun 01: The Easy Rollers @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £13.70., £11.55.
Sun 01: Brand/Roberts/Champion/Sanders @ Blank Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Sun 01: Papa G's Troves @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 02: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Mon 02: FILM: Wattstax; 50th Anniversary @ Forum Cinema, Hexham. 8:00pm.

Monday, June 20, 2016

Benet McLean: The Bopped and the Bopless CD launch -The 606 Club Chelsea, London June 16

(Review by Helen Theophanous/Photo courtesy of Benet McLean)
It is indicative of the high regard in which Benet McLean is held by his fellow jazz musicians that so many eminent names joined him to celebrate his CD launch  at the 606 Club in Chelsea.
With Julian Joseph at the piano Clark Tracey on drums, Daniel Casimir on bassSteve Williamson, tenor sax and McLean on amplified violin, the very first notes of Cole Porter's Just One of Those Things heralded that this was to be an exceptional evening of the best in contemporary jazz. McLean is already celebrated for his dazzling jazz piano playing but his virtuoso violin playing also translates easily to jazz with amplified sparse left-hand pizzicato leading to bravura treatments and intelligent exposition.
 Number after number revealed the range of enormous talent gathered for the occasion and the easy natural communication between them. McLean introduced celebrated guest musicians to the stage – tenor saxophonist Duncan Eagles, with whom he performed in Eagle's band Partikel, flautist Gareth Lockrane , pianist Harry Bolt  and singer Aydenne Simone whose deep rich resonant voice personified the sound of Monk’s 'Round Midnight.
Every piece embraced by McLean and his friends just took flight.

A moving and very special moment was created by the performance of Meditation from Thaïs by Massenet with Benet on violin accompanied by his brother, the celebrated international concert pianist Viv McLean. This was classical musicianship of the highest standard which perfectly illustrated that there are no musical barriers, only good music.
Particular mention must be made of the great interplay between Steve Williamson and McLean, who played amongst other things Monk's Trinkle Tinkle. In another guest spot the trio front-line of Duncan Eagles, McLean and flautist Gareth Lockrane gave an explorative up-tempo reading of Coltrane's Countdown before a steaming rhythm section came storming in. Rodgers and Harts’ Lover proved to be a brilliant showcase for leading drummer Clark Tracey.

As a gifted composer, singer, jazz pianist and jazz violinist Benet Mclean is a huge and unique talent following in the steps of  Stephane Grappelli (1908-1997). McLean is further developing the art of the jazz violin in his own style with the use of electronics and edgy modern fearless improvisation. He deserves international recognition.

The 606 Club has a long history of promoting the best in jazz, and host Steve Rubie welcomed the illustrious line up giving The Bopped And The Bopless the accolade of CD title of the year.  With five originals by McLean plus his arrangements of works by Gil Fuller/Dizzy Gillespie, J. Harvey, and The Ruts.  It is also one of the best jazz CD's of the year.
Helen.

1 comment :

Lance said...

When I reviewed this last month I must confess that it was Benet's piano playing that captivated me and I foolishly overlooked the violin playing! Thank you Helen for redressing the balance!

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