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Bebop Spoken There

Ambrose Akinmusire: “ I am certainly always aware of what the masses are doing. And when I see too many people going one way, I'm going another way - even when I don't know what's over that way". DownBeat, March, 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

16287 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 169 of them this year alone and, so far, 41 this month (Mar 18).

From This Moment On ...

March

Tue 19: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Tim Johnston.

Wed 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 20: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 20: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 21: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 21: Castillo Neuvo Trio + Conor Emery & His ‘Bones Band @ The Grove, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £10.00. (£7.00. student).
Thu 21: Remi Banklyn + Chris Corcoran Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.50. Chicago blues. An International Guitar Foundation promotion.
Thu 21: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Ragtime piano.
Thu 21: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 22: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 22: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 22: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 22: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 22: Nauta + Remy CB + Last Orders @ Hoochie Coochie, Newcastle. 8:30pm (7:30pm doors). Free.
Fri 22: Vasilis Xenopoulos-Paul Edis Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £15.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 22: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 23: Jambone @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Free (ticketed). End of term performance in the Northern Rock Foundation Hall.
Sat 23: Milne-Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 23: Red Kites Jazz @ Rowlands Gill Community Centre NE39 1JB. 7:00pm. Tickets: £12.00. (gibsidecommunityfarm@gmail.com). A ‘Build a Barn’ fundraiser. BYOB, tea/coffee available.
Sat 23: New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00. + bf (book in person at venue - no booking fee!). Featuring pianist Martin Litton.
Sat 23: Pete Tanton’s Cuba Libre @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 24: Musicians Unlimited @ Park Inn, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 24: Luis Verde @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. Verde (alto sax); Joe Steels (guitar); John Pope (double bass); John Hirst (drums). Alto sax brilliance!
Sun 24: Elsie Franklin @ The Globe, Newcastle. 3:00pm. £10.00. Country blues. An International Guitar Foundation promotion.
Sun 24: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay Metro Station. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: Las Vegas Live with the Rat Pack @ The Forum, Billingham.
Sun 24: Ian Millar & Dominic Spencer @ Otterburn Memorial Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Sun 24: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Note start time - 7:00pm.
Sun 24: Bold Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 25: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Friday, September 02, 2016

New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ Ushaw Durham Jazz Festival August 27













(Review by Russell/Photos courtesy of Gordon Carlton)
Let us pray! The first words of Steve Andrews introducing the New Century Ragtime Orchestra in the hallowed surroundings of Ushaw College. Andrews’ one-liners came thick and fast, although on this engagement the band’s MC was pressed into action in
the reed section, occupying the chair usually reserved for Gavin Lee, resulting in an impressive display of  multi-tasking combining comic asides with first rate playing.
Gavin Lee, renowned clarinettist and saxophonist, assumed the drum chair, the band’s regular percussionist being unavailable for this concert date. Lee began playing jazz as Brian Carrick’s drummer, and now, after a number of years, he was to act as drum dep. The indications were good: a minimalist’s set-up of bass drum, snare and two cymbals. Piano duties were put the way of Paul Edis. One could be forgiven for thinking he had little else to do! Dr Edis donned a fetching white bow tie…
 King Oliver towers over the early years of the so-called ‘classic jazz era’. And so it was that the ensemble began with Too Bad, recorded by Oliver’s Dixie Syncopators. I Can’t Give You Anything But Love, Baby introduced vocalist Caroline Irwin and she stayed on to sing I’m Through with Love. Not to be outdone, Jim McBriarty, affectionately known as the band’s boy singer asked the question: What do we do on a Dew, Dew, Dewy Day? Cole Porter’s Let’s Do It, Dorothy Fields/Jimmy McHugh’s Doin’ the Low Down and a rather nice rendition, in French, sung by Irwin, of  J’attendrai were three of many great numbers played during two sets. Steve Andrews featured on the Jean Goldkette hit I’m Gonna Meet My Sweetie Now playing alto, either side of a string of witty observations, some of which poked fun, albeit gently, at some of his band mates.                    
 The New Century got down to playing some serious jazz on Ellington’s Black and Tan Fantasy. Andrews alluded to Bubber Miley and Arthur Whetsol in introducing Graham Hardy’s growling, plungered mute, trumpet part. The Northern Monkey did just fine, as did Ed Cross (violin), Edis, and Andrews himself playing clarinet. Patrol Wagon Blues produced more fine jazz as Hardy (trumpet), and McBriarty (vocals and arrangement),   took on a classic number. Steve Andrews reminded the audience of Henry ‘Red’ Allen’s fondness for the tune, so, no pressure on Messrs Hardy and McBriarty! The boys ‘done good’. MC Andrews picked up his tenor for some spirited playing on a rousing finale: Limehouse Blues. The New Century Ragtime Orchestra, to coin a phrase, should be on everyone’s ‘bucket list’. A unique ensemble doing invaluable work under the dedicated direction of band leader Dave Kerr, make a point of hearing the band.    
Footnote. MC Steve Andrews declared: Paul Edis is as significant as it gets [on the jazz scene] in the northeast.
Russell.
Steve Andrews (MC, tenor & alto saxophones, clarinet), Jim McBriarty (alto saxophone, clarinet & vocals), Alan Marshall (tenor & alto saxophones, clarinet), Graham Hardy (trumpet), Alistair Lord (trumpet); Neville Hartley (trombone); Ed Cross (violin); Keith Stephen (guitar & banjo); Paul Edis (piano); Phil Rutherford (sousaphone); Gavin Lee (drums) & Caroline Irwin (vocals)



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