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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.

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Durham Alumni Big Band with Al Wood @ Ushaw Durham Jazz Festival. August 27

 (Review by Russell).
The first jazz festival to be held in Durham’s Ushaw College couldn’t possibly omit the county’s finest big band from the programme. A Saturday afternoon slot in the magnificent surroundings of the circa 1808 Exhibition Hall attracted a large crowd eager to hear the award-winning band. An indication of the commitment of band members was that few deps were required on this August bank holiday weekend. Guest MD Al Wood was booked to work with the band and two star names were to sit-in.
An ensemble with exceptional soloists in the ranks, the Alumni presented a balanced set of tunes. Star tenor soloist Alex Baker featured on several numbers including Al Wood’s Over the Top with the band in fine form, and a magnificent Lady Day. Veteran trombone man Terry ‘Smokin’ Spitfire’ O’Hern grabbed a solo on I Love Paris and Ian Robinson’s flugelhorn solo on Black Orpheus (arr. Phil Steel) deservedly met with applause.

MD Wood took five leaving the Alumni to tackle James Hamilton’s Back on Your Heads with several soloists standing up – Baker (tenor), Jonny Dunn (trumpet), Steve McGarvie (another Smokin’ Spitfire!) blowing alto, and ’bone man O’Hern. The sections never fail to deliver the goods: the all-star trumpets led by young Tom Hill (grandfather Mick sat in the section to keep an eye on the young whippersnapper!), the ace trombones and a hard to beat reeds’ section, not forgetting the best big band rhythm section around - Edis, Amy Baker and Stephen Fletcher.

A bonus for the audience (and band) was an unannounced appearance of Alan Barnes and Bruce Adams. Arriving at Ushaw in good time the duo sat in on a couple of numbers with  the Alumni ahead of their advertised festival engagements. Barnes’ Side Steppin’  with A. Barnes on alto and Barnes and Bruce Adams playing I Love You set things up nicely for a rip-roaring Be-Bop Charlie featuring guests AB and BA and depping pianist (and festival director) Paul Edis, and typically rousing alto once more from McGarvie.
Al Wood, on alto, closed the show with Bernie’s Tune. Mr Wood is an institution in these parts. A life-long educator and first class multi-instrumentalist to boot, Wood has inspired countless young musicians, long may he continue to do so.          
Russell.
Al Wood (MD, alto & baritone saxophones); Alex Baker (tenor saxophone), Dan Johnson (tenor saxophone), Steve McGarvie (alto & soprano saxophones), Danielle Drew (alto saxophone), Omar Shade (baritone saxophone); Shaune Eland (trumpet), Jonny Dunn (trumpet), Tom Hill (trumpet), Ian Robinson (trumpet), Mick Hill (trumpet); Andrew Kirtley (trombone), Alastair Wood (trombone), Terry O’Hern (trombone), David Hamilton (bass trombone); Paul Edis (piano), Amy Baker (bass), Stephen Fletcher (drums) + Alan Barnes (alto saxophone) & Bruce Adams (trumpet & flugelhorn).
Band photo courtesy of John Marlor.
Alex Baker photo courtesy of Eric Robertson.
Al Wood photo courtesy of Gordon Carlton.

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