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Bebop Spoken There

Abbie Finn: "Even though there's a lot of great work being done to promote women in jazz, I still come up against some attitudes! I pulled up at a recording session with my drums in the car and the studio owner said, 'I'm sorry, this space is reserved for the drummer!'" - (Jazzwise April 2023).

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

15245 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 264 of them this year alone and, so far, 77 this month (March 25).

From This Moment On ...

March

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited @ Park Inn, Hartlepool. 1:00pm.
Sun 26: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 3:00pm.
Mar 26: Pop Jazz @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. 'Jazzified' tunes by the likes of Sylvester, Bowie, the Monkees etc., feat. Alan Law, David Gray, Richard Herdman & Jude Murphy.
Sun 26: Outlines @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. JNE promotion (upstairs).

Mon 27: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.

Tue 28: Paul Skerritt @ The Rabbit Hole, Hallgarth St., Durham DH1 3AT. 7:00pm. Paul Skerritt's (solo) weekly residency.
Tue 28: Sanaz Lavasani Trio @ Black Swan, Newcastle Arts Centre. 8:00pm. £12.00 (£10.00. adv).

Wed 29: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 29: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 29: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:00pm.
Wed 29: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thu 30: Gateshead Jazz Appreciation Society @ Gateshead Central Library. 2:30-4:30pm. £2.00. All welcome.
Thu 30: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. Back to 1:00pm stomp off. Free.
Thu 30: '58 Jazz Collective @ Hops & Cheese, Hartlepool. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 30: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Harbour View, Sunderland. 8:00pm.
Thu 30: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Fri 31: Lewis Watson Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Town Hall. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 31: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 31: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 31: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm. CANCELLED! Back next week (April 7).
Fri 31: Jasmine Myra + Waclaw Zimpel @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Fri 31: The Revolutionaires @ The Shack, Boldon Colliery. 7:30pm. £10.00. The Revolutionaires' big band (horn section) line-up.
Fri 31: Andrew McCormack @ Maltings, Berwick. 8:00pm. £20.00.

April
Sat 01: The Big Easy @ St Augustine's Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm.
Sat 01: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. Tutor: Steve Glendinning - In a Minor Key. £25.00. Enrol at: www.jazz.coop.
Sat 01: Hot Club du Nord @ Pleased to Meet You, Bridge St., Morpeth. 8:00pm. £79.00. A charity fundraising event.
Sat 01: Boys of Brass @ Stack, Seaburn. 7:00-9:00pm.
Sat 01: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00. RESCHEDULED to next week (Sat 08).

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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