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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

Thursday, September 29, 2016

CD Review: Square One – In Motion

Joe Williamson (guitar), Peter Johnstone (piano), David Bowden (bass) & Stephen Henderson (drums & percussion)
(Review by Russell)
Four undergraduates met at the Conservatoire of Scotland. They formed a quartet, played some gigs, recorded an EP, and, as recipients of the 2015 Peter Whittingham Jazz Award, recorded a debut CD in April 2016. The band is Square One, the album is In Motion. The band’s publicity suggests the music embraces variously ECM Euro-cool, folk, fusion and, of course, jazz.
Ten tracks, all of which are group compositions, span precisely sixty minutes. Beginning with the title track – Square One – keeps things simple, saying to the listener: This is who we are. Joe Williamson, guitar, Peter Johnstone, piano, David Bowden (double bass) and Stephen Henderson (drums) have rapidly developed a collective identity; strong, melodic compositions negotiated with impressive, mature musicianship.

A shimmering, yet taut Full Circle is the sound of jazz today. Bowden and Henderson are assured navigators of the developing joyous melody. Bowden’s resonant strings-on-wood double bass playing on Eastern Ballad is expertly recorded by engineer Stuart Hamilton. Quicksand and Quicksand – Part 2 feature Williamson’s urgent, flowing lines, quelled by Johnstone’s Part 2 calming influence. Bowden’s bass features on 12 with a suggestion of Milestones underpinning the tune.
Crawler is a standout track for at least two reasons: a wonderful, sprawling blues number with Williamson’s down-in-the-hole solo punctuated by Johnstone’s descending patterns, and, it is (successfully) atypical of the album as a whole. In Motion succeeds in the fusing of folk melody with jazz improvisation. Recorded at Castlesound Studios in Pencaitland, the album is Square One’s calling card. Released on 4 October, In Motion is a thoroughly recommended purchase. Square One embark upon a European tour at the Spotted Dog in Birmingham on 4 October. Three dates in Poland follow (including Theatre in the Castle, Przemsyl, 23 October), then there is a home turf gig at the Hug and Pint in Glasgow and a London date at the Vortex on 29 November.                                                                             
Russell.
In Motion (SQ1CD1601) is available on the quartet's bandcamp page.

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