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Bebop Spoken There

Kurt Elling: ''There's something to learn from every musician you play with''. (DownBeat, December 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

17630 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 904 of them this year alone and, so far, 49 this month (Dec. 20).

From This Moment On ...

December

Mon 23: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Wheatsheaf, Benton Sq., Whitley Road, Palmersville NE12 9SU. Tel: 0191 266 8137. 1:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Mon 23: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 4:00pm. Free.
Mon 23: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Mon 23: Milne-Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.

Tue 24: Lindsay Hannon & Mark Williams @ Ernest, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 11:00am-1:00pm. Free.
Tue 24: Paul Skerritt @ Mambo Wine & Dine, South Shields. 1:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.

Wed 25: Wot? No jazz!

Thu 26: The Boneshakers @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. The 17th annual Boneshakers’ Shindig.

Fri 27: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free. Business as usual!.
Fri 27: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 27: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

Sat 28: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 11:30am. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 28: Fri 20: Castillo Nuevo @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Sat 28: Jude Murphy, Rich Herdman & Giles Strong @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 28: Ray Stubbs R & B All-Stars @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Stepney Bank, Newcastle. 9:00pm. Free.

Sun 29: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 29: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

Tuesday, September 06, 2016

CD Review: The Girshevich Trio - Algorithmic Society .

Vlad Girshevich (Piano, Synthesizers); Eddie Gomez (bass); Aleks Girshevich (drums)
(Review by Steve T)
Played this a couple of times a couple of weeks ago, then became distracted by leafleting, attending and reviewing Ushaw, before coming back to it, which can be an interesting exercise to see how much you've retained.
It's a piano trio but lets you know straight out there's also strings, though not on all tracks.
As with reggae and blues, there's much debate as to how successful this can be. John Holt tried it with reggae and the jury is still out, though it didn't catch on. It's broadly agreed that BB Kings' Thrill is Gone was a success but again, it hasn't caught on. Others will have better and more contemporary examples in Jazz, but Bird and Wes are obvious ones, with both generally deemed unsuccessful.  
My first encounter was the Ramsey Lewis album Legacy with one side (vinyl/cassette) Jazz Funk and the other an attempt to marry Jazz with classical music. At the time I loved it, as did a good friend of mine, but I hadn't yet found Cecil Taylor and acoustic Herbie, nor Stravinsky and Shostakovich. I heard it again recently and still quite liked it.
This album works really well and I found myself consciously listening for the presence of strings, the fusion seeming so seamless.
I read the notes after the first couple of plays and, when they referred to the Baroque influence specifically, I thought I needed to brush up on my Bach (not). However, when I came back to it, I had put this out of my mind but distinctly recognised 'old' classical music, particularly on Far Away Place and, with Gomez' bowed bass sounding distinctly like a cello on Song of an old Tree.
Unsurprisingly, classical piano came first for the leader before he discovered Jazz, and number one son and I both came up with Bill Evans, though neither of us are as familiar with his solo stuff as we should be. I also heard Chick Corea, particularly the classical leanings of the Jazz Rock version of Return to Ever. I'll also hazard an educated(ish) guess at Keith Jarrett though I'm probably as familiar with his solo stuff as I wish to be. 
It's a strong album, recommended to anyone with a penchant for Jazz piano, irrespective of their view on strings, however, the real miracle is his twelve-year-old son on drums. With Mathew and Abbie, we're well accustomed to 'special' young drummers around these parts, but this kid is incredible.
Also recommended to drummers everywhere, it's out now on Tapestry Records.


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