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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 01, 2016

Mark Williams & Joel McCullough @ Ushaw Durham Jazz Festival. August 27

Mark Williams (guitar) & Joel McCullough (guitar)
(Review by Russell/photo courtesy of Fiona Haughton)
Jazz guitar. There is something about an intimate jazz guitar gig in a small space. Two of the finest guitarists around played a duo concert in the inviting Francis Thompson Room to an attentive, full house. Two men from Belfast, playing jazz guitar, studied together at Newcastle College, then went their separate ways. One made his home on Tyneside, the other worked in Manchester. Years later they reunited on Tyneside and picked up where they left off…playing jazz guitar.

 The inaugural Ushaw Durham Jazz Festival booked Mark Williams and Joel McCullough to play a set of standards. What a gig! And it had yet to start! Unassuming, approachable, Williams and McCullough ensured they had liquid refreshment at hand (Brown Ale – see photograph), pulled up a chair – the audience settled into large sofas – and started to play. All the Things You Are. Perfect. Egos left at the door, two friends playing, appreciative of one another’s abilities. Then I’ll Be Seeing You. It couldn’t get any better. Then again, try a couple of Steve Swallow’s compositions – Ladies in Mercedes and Falling Grace.

John Scofield is rarely absent from the set list and this Durham gig was no different. And a marvellous Ladybird, heard earlier in the day in the same room in the Early Bird Band’s set, promised to be the highlight. Williams eased his way into Tadd Dameron’s tune with McCullough’s languid bass line accompaniment of A* quality. A glance, if that, and the duo swapped roles, McCullough showing what he could do with the tune. Wonderful.                   
In their youth, the two lads from the streets of Belfast would attend jazz clubs to hear one of the true greats. They spoke about the times they listened to Louis Stewart. In memory of the man, Williams and McCullough played first an Irish folk tune She Moved Through the Fair followed by Darn That Dream. Perfect.

Russell.

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