Total Pageviews

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.

Saturday, November 12, 2016

CD Review: Brandi Disterheft - Blue Canvas


Brandi Disterheft (bs/cello/vcl); Harold Mabern (pno); Joe Farnsworth (dms).
(Review by Lance).
To my shame, I was unaware of Ms. Disterheft even though this is her fourth album  on Justin Time Records [get it?]. The vocalist/bassist/cellist has  been referred to as "handling her bass violin with as much visceral audacity as Mingus once did", whilst Oscar Peterson said of her, "She is what we call serious".
So, no lightweight.
However, the heavyweight here is Harold Mabern - the pianist has, probably, been on more gigs and albums than the other two combined - three times over.
Now 80 year old, he is still [quote] Tinkling the ivories with soulful panache. Tinkling them? He's making them so much a part of him he's likely to grow a trunk and become prey to a bounty hunter. We pray not. I don't know how many legendary jazz pianists are still around but, on this performance, they're all fighting for second place.
This is not to take anything away from Brandi, the jury may still be out re Mingus but she's a damn fine bassist and certainly sings better than Mingus.
In the liner notes, Brandi explores the Divine Madness, as philosophized by Plato, depicting how Gods and Goddesses would lead the artist into a state of ecstasy.
By this time, I'd made a paper airplane out of the notes, closed my eyes and enjoyed a superb trio album without any divine madness.
Dis Here (Hendricks/Timmons): The trio set their stall out and it's quality merchandise. Where has Mabern been hiding?
Prelude to the Crippling Thrill (Disterheft): Unaccompanied double bass - maybe Brandi does have some of Mingus' visceral audacity!
Crippling Thrill (Disterheft); The lady can sing!
Beehive (Mabern): Mabern's tune, previously recorded with Lee Morgan 46 years ago. provides  a workout for Farnsworth. The pair have gigged together for the past 25 years so, needless to say, they've got it right. 
Daahoud (C.Brown); Mabern treats the Clifford Brown classic as a ballad with touches of Teddy Wilson and Errol Garner thrown into the mix and Brandi plays a bass solo that didn't do any harm at all.
Blue Canvas (Disterheft): The second vocal. This lady could make it with, or without the bass, as a singer, composer and lyricist although I hope she sticks with all her options!
George's Dilemma (C.Brown): Another Brown classic and Farnsworth's let loose.
When the Mood is Right (Disterheft): A further string to her bow - in this case a cello string. I guess it will be viola next.
Our Delight (Dameron); Back to bass, weaving expertly around Dameron's great lines. As Oscar said, "Serious". Mabern also gets back into the game with a fine solo and some salty exchanges with Farnsworth.
Willow Weep For me (Ronell): Brandi gave the Ronnell (Gershwin?) tune a workout before Mabern trumped her (that phrase is now passé) with a fantastic solo that led into a fade-out ending.
Lance

No comments :

Blog Archive