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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

17602 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 876 of them this year alone and, so far, 21 this month (Dec. 11).

From This Moment On ...

December

Thu 12: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Spanish City, Whitley Bay. 12 noon. £27.00. (inc. three -course meal).
Thu 12: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:00-6:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Thu 12: Stuart Turner @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 12: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesborough. 8:30pm. Free. Guests: Jeremy McMurray (keys); Mark Toomey (alto sax); Donna Hewitt (tenor sax); Kevin Eland (trumpet); Ron Smith (bass).

Fri 13: Dean Stockdale Trio @ Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 13: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Bellavana @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 3:00-5:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Joe Steels Trio @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Customs House Big Band @ Stocksfield Community Association. 7:00pm. Featuring Ruth Lambert.
Fri 13: Paul Edis & Friends: A Jazzy Xmas @ St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook. 7:30pm. £15.00.
Fri 13: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £19.00. + bf. First night of two.
Fri 13: Ransom Van @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 13: Boys of Brass @ Hoochie Coochie, Newcastle. 9:00pm. £10.00.

Sat 14: Jambone @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:15pm. Free but ticketed.
Sat 14: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm.
Sat 14: Red Kites Jazz @ Staiths Café, Autumn Dr., Gateshead. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 14 Lapwing Jazz Trio @ Three Sheets to the Wind, Alnwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 14: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £19.00. + bf. Second night of two.
Sat 14: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 15: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 12 noon. £8.50. Xmas party feat. Musicians Unlimited + Customs House Big Band. SOLD OUT!
Sun 15: Paul Edis & Friends: A Jazzy Xmas @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 2:00pm.
Sun 15: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Mitch Laddie Band @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Superb blues power trio.
Sun 15: Leeway @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 15: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Paul Edis & Friends: A Jazzy Xmas @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.
Sun 15: Alligator Gumbo @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 16: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 16: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Wheatsheaf, Benton Sq., Whitley Road, Palmersville NE12 9SU. Tel: 0191 266 8137. 12 noon. £9.95. ‘Festive Turkey Dinner’. Book now: 0191 266 8137.
Mon 16: Paul Edis & Friends: A Jazzy Xmas @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.

Tue 17: Paul Edis & Friends: A Jazzy Xmas @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.
Tue 17: BBC Big Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. ‘A Swinging Xmas’.
Tue 17: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.
Tue 17: Bellavana @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 7:45-9:35pm. Free.

Wed 18: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 18: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 18: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 18: Hot Club of Heaton @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘third Wednesday in the month’ session.

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

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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