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Bebop Spoken There

Abbie Finn: "Even though there's a lot of great work being done to promote women in jazz, I still come up against some attitudes! I pulled up at a recording session with my drums in the car and the studio owner said, 'I'm sorry, this space is reserved for the drummer!'" - (Jazzwise April 2023).

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

15229 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 248 of them this year alone and, so far, 61 this month (March 20).

From This Moment On ...

March

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Traveller's Rest, Cockerton. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public). Note change of venue - CANCELLED CEILING COLLAPSED!
Wed 22: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:00pm.
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thu 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 4:00-6:00pm. Free.
Thu 23: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Bar Loco, Newcasatle. From 6:30pm 'til late. Free. Newcastle University Jazz Orchestra jam session. All welcome (students & non-students).
Thu 23: Kerrin Tatman + John Garner & John Pope @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Thu 23: Sunna Gunnlaugs & Julia Hülsmann @ Sage Gateshead. 8:00pm. A two-piano gig. A Sage Gateshead-JNE promotion.
Thu 23: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Ragtime piano.
Thu 23: Sleep Suppressor @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £10.00., £8.00. adv. Upstairs.
Thu 23: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.
Fri 24: FILM: Mo' Better Blues @ Forum Cinema, Hexham. 7:00pm.
Fri 24: Ian Millar & Dominic Spencer @ Scarth Hall, Staindrop, Co. Durham. 8:00pm. £10.00.
Fri 24: Archipelago + Bulbils @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.

Sat 25: Vermont Big Band @ Walker Community Centre, Walker, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Fundraiser for Benfield Juniours Football Club. Hot food available, BYOB.
Sat 25: John Logan & Friends @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Rat Pack, Motown etc. 8:00pm. Free (donations).

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited @ Park Inn, Hartlepool. 1:00pm.
Sun 26: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 3:00pm.
Sun 26: Outlines @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. JNE promotion (upstairs).

Mon 27: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.

Tue 28: Paul Skerritt @ The Rabbit Hole, Hallgarth St., Durham DH1 3AT. 7:00pm. Paul Skerritt's (solo) weekly residency.
Tue 28: Sanaz Lavasani Trio @ Black Swan, Newcastle Arts Centre. 8:00pm. £12.00 (£10.00. adv).

Thursday, September 29, 2016

Followed By Thirteen @ The Jazz Café – September 27

André Canniere (trumpet); Esben Tjalve (piano); Henrik Jensen (bass); Antonio Fusco (drums)
(Review by/photo courtesy of – Ken Drew.) 
Opening with Bonza,  Canniere provides a gentle introduction before passing to Tjalve to develop on piano then Fusco on  drums with Jensen providing solid support throughout.  A confident opener for the band giving a flavour of and raising expectations of what was to follow. The Dutch Daneman began with a powerful trumpet lead before bursting into life courtesy of Jensen, Tjalve and Fusco’s driving rhythm. Even at this early point in the concert, the quartet demonstrated a tight interplay and support during the solo sections. The bass was ever present, keeping up with Fusco on drums with his very enthusiastic, yet accurate, playing. With some very intricate rhythms and powerful and exciting drum solo sections, overall the quartet produced a fine cohesive sound.
Jensen informs us this is the last gig of their current tour.  No wonder they were so tight as a band - we’re benefiting from all those recent ‘rehearsals’ on their tour, and greatly appreciated by the Newcastle audience.  Then an extended tune, again with good solos all round. Lively and quite complex in places but overall giving a good groove, engaging the audience every step of the way.   Finally in the first set, a quiet and slow intro from Jensen before passing to Cannniere who produces a slightly haunting tone, fleetingly reminiscent of the soulful sound of Chet Baker’s My Funny Valentine (to my ears anyway!). This turns out to be another extended piece ending with the trumpet and bass, underpinned by gently purring drums gradually diminishing into the background. 

Ricardo’s Room reflections of a time Jensen visited Italy. A slightly restrained groove encouraging some intricate cross-rhythms from Fusco – and the switches between sublime piano delicacy and full-band vibrancy were great to witness.   This then followed by another fast-paced piece with many intricate moments of rapidly changing rhythms – the quartet again holding it all together extremely well. And well received too!  A change of pace with Y’on ready? a gentle and sweet tune again with perfectly co-ordinated playing across the band led by Jensen throughout.  London Berlin took the tempo back up moving between hectic activity and somewhat calmer moments, maybe a portrayal of Jensen's experience of the two cities. The hectic elements gradually took precedence as all four players up the pace, Fusco seeming urging Tjalve's piano solo forwards. Landmarks had good and interesting solos from Fusco yet again. I noted the brief use of a plastic tube from his mouth to control the pitch of a specific drum – used sparingly but very effectively.  Finally, The Post Office a very lively piece and a good place to end – on a high!

Overall, very strong playing from all four, but the drums took my attention again and again by the intricacy and subtlety (or sometimes not) of the changes in rhythm aligning perfectly with the style and mood of each piece. But the overall standout was the band itself. What a great quartet with lively sound, always tight but allowing plenty of individual freedom too, playing to a select few who were richly rewarded for their attendance. Followed By Thirteen’s appeal is surely down to Henrik Jensen’s skill as writer, instrumentalist and leader coupled with the undoubted skills of his band members, resulting in an excellent concert from a superb international  quartet.
For this concert they played many tracks from their new album “Blackwater” and a couple from their first  “Qualia” – both worth checking out.
Ken Drew

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