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Bebop Spoken There

Art Blakey: "You [Bobby Watson] don't want to play too long, because you don't know they're clapping because they're glad you finished!" - (JazzTimes, Nov. 2019)..

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

15848 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 855 of them this year alone and, so far, 53 this month (Sept. 18).

From This Moment On ...

September

Fri 22: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 22: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 22: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.
Fri 22: Brief Encounter @ Bardon Mill Village Hall, Northumberland. 7:00pm. Tickets: £10.00. adv from 07885 303166; £12.00. on the door. Chris & Veronica Perrin improvising to a screening of the 1929 'Jazz Age' silent film Piccadilly (Dir. Ewald André Dupont).
Fri 22: Paul Edis & Graeme Wilson + Three Tsuru Origami @ Jesmond United Reformed Church, Newcastle. 7:30pm. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Fri 22: Crooners @ Tyne Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm.
Fri 22: Abbie Finn's Finntet @ Traveller's Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.

Sat 23: Tyne Valley Big Band @ Tanfield Railway, Gateshead. 2:00-4:00pm. Free. A '1940s Weekend' event.
Sat 23: Jason Isaacs @ Stack, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free.
Sat 23: Andrew Porritt & Keith Barrett @ Cullercoats Watch House, Front St., Cullercoats NE30 4QB. 7:00pm.
Sat 23: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig. Country blues.

Sun 24: Musicians Unlimited @ Park Inn, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.

Mon 25: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Mon 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 7:00pm.

Tue 26: Paul Skerritt @ The Rabbit Hole, Hallgarth St., Durham DH1 3AT. 7:00pm. Paul Skerritt's (solo) weekly residency.

Wed 27: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 27: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 27: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thu 28: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 28: Alice Grace Quartet @ King's Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 28: Gateshead Jazz Appreciation Society @ Gateshead Central Library, Gateshead. 2:30pm. All welcome.
Thu 28: Faye MacCalman + Snape/Sankey @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Thu 28: Zoe Rahman @ Jesmond United Reformed Church, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:30pm. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Thu 28: '58 Jazz Collective @ Hops & Cheese, Hartlepool. 7:30pm.
Thu 28: Speakeasy @ Queen's Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm. £15.00. A Southpaw Dance Company presentation. Dance, audio-visuals, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, swing dancers etc.
Thu 28: Mick Cantwell Band @ Harbour View, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Ace blues band.
Thu 28: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

CD Review: Duncan Lamont Big Band featuring Kenny Wheeler - As if by Magic

 (Review by Lance).
I can’t say that I ever watched the animated television series, Mr. Benn. Although shown in the 1970s, I’d never actually heard of it until now!
However, having long been a fan of Duncan Lamont – his Young Person’s Guide to the Contemporary Jazz Orchestra is a classic and I just wish I could find my copy to play it again (anyone out there got a copy?)
Lamont (senior) wrote the original music for the Mr Benn series and, going by this 2011 recording, his talents as a composer and arranger haven't diminished.

Mr Benn: the show’s signature tune has a Latin feel with solos by Wood, Shaw (Saturday night hero at The Globe), Panayi on flute and Wheeler on flugel. – he offers an interesting contrast to Shaw.
As if by Magic: A minor blues with an oriental feel and short solos by Paniyi (piccolo); Ricotti (xylophone); Langley, White and Hastings (tenor).
The Dragon’s Tale: showcases Shaw’s lyricism – to think our brief conversation on Saturday night concerned Wylam Brewery’s Red Kite Ale! Had I heard this first the conversation could have been extended (depending on how thirsty he was!)
Coming Home: A trombone feature with a nice danceable chorus by the saxes – beautifully harmonised. The ‘bones; Edwards, Wood and White bring to mind JJ & Kai with  maybe Cleveland added.
The Balloonist: In waltz time, the mood is floating. Dee launches the hot airship, Panayi’s flute takes us up there, Paul Jones (a familiar name to Wearsiders) maintains altitude (altotude?), Ricotti provides good vibes before Wheeler lands the ship as eloquently as only he could, albeit not without some turbulence from the ensemble.
Festive Band: The mood is a pre-war Palais-de Dance with Dee ‘tickling the ivories’ as only he can. Laurence shows on bass and Talbot’s tenor is as lyrical as anything on the disc – may I have the next one?
The Sea Monster: Brings Wheeler back on board. A melancholic piece that contrasts with…
Don’t Forget the Dragon: This sees trombones Edwards, White and Woods slugging it out followed by a Jones v Paniyi joust. Shaw and Langley are next to take up the cudgels and, just as the watchers are about to send for the Jazz Police to restore order, Jimmy Hastings steps into the ring calming things down with tenor playing that reminds us just how tasteful a player he is.
But, the show ain’t over yet as Salmins and Ricotti have a few Latin moments before the band gently put Mr. Benn and The Dragon to bed.
Best big band record I've heard this year.
Lance.

Kenny Wheeler (flugel); Yasmin Ahmed, Tom Rees-Roberts, Noel Langley, Martin Shaw (trumpets); Andy Wood, Alistair White, Richard Edwards, Pete North (trombones); Jimmy Hastings, Jamie Talbot, Andy Panayi, Paul Jones, Duncan Lamont Jnr.; (saxes); Brian Dee (piano); Chris Laurence(bass); Ralph Salmins (drums); Frank Ricotti; (vibes/xylophone/percussion).

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