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Bebop Spoken There

Billy Boy Arnold: “As long as you don't think old you're good.” - DownBeat, December, 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!"

Simon Spillett: A lovely review from the dean of jazz bloggers, Lance Liddle...

Postage

16034 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 1041 of them this year alone and, so far, 73 this month (Nov. 27).

From This Moment On ...

December

Tue 05: Customs House Big Band @ All Saints Church, Cleadon. 7:00pm. Concert in the church hall. BYOB.
Tue 05: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Sid White. The best free show in town!

Wed 06: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 06: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 8:00pm. Free. Note later start time, concert performance (open to the public).
Wed 06: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thu 07: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free CANCELLED!
Thu 07: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Spanish City, Whitley Bay, Newcastle. 12 noon - 4:00pm. £26.00 (inc 3-course meal in in St Mary's Lighthouse Suite). SOLD OUT!
Thu 07: Gateshead Jazz Appreciation Society @ Gateshead Central Library, Gateshead. 2:30pm. All welcome.
Thu 07: Thursday Night Prayer Meeting @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.Donations. Feat. Mark Sanders. CANCELLED!
Thu 07: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00. Downstairs.
Thu 07: Tees Hot Club: Just Friends @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. Guest band night w. Richie Emmerson, Ian Bosworth, Dave Archbold, Ron Smith, Mark Hawkins. 9:00pm.

Fri 08: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 08: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 08: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.
Fri 08: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Old Library, Auckland Castle. 1:00pm. £7.00.
Fri 08: Hayley's Little Big Band @ Woodland Village Hall, Bishop Auckland. 7:00pm. £12.00.
Fri 08: Sleep Suppressor + Redwell @ Head of Steam, Neville St., Newcastle. 8:00pm. £10.00. (£8.00. adv); £5.00. student.
Fri 08: Hot Club du Nord @ St Cuthbert's Church, Shadforth, Co. Durham.
Fri 08: Têtes de Pois + Nauta @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £8.00.

Sat 09: Prudhoe Community Band @ Central Station, Newcastle. 10:00am - 12 noon. Charity fundraiser.
Sat 09: Durham Alumni Big Band @ Number One Bar, Skinnergate, Darlington. 1:00pm.
Sat 09: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Sat 09: Hayley's Little Big Band @ Middleton & Todridge Village Hall, Morpeth. 7:30pm. £12.00., £6.00.
Sat 09: Paul Skerritt @ Slaley Hall, Hexham NE47 0BX. 7:30pm. From £42.00.

Sun 10: Musicians Unlimited’s Xmas Party with Zoe Gilby Quartet @ Park Inn, Hartlepool. MU 1:00-3:00pm; Zoë Gilby Quartet 4:00-6:00pm. Tickets: £7.50.
Sun 10: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00-4:00pm. Free.
Sun 10: Funk Soul Sista @ Stack, Seaburn. 5:00-7:00pm. Free.
Sun 10: Beth Clarke @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 10: Hayley's Little Big Band @ Whittingham Memorial Institute, Alnwick. 7:30pm. £12.00., £10.00.
Sun 10: Tele-Port @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Line-up inc. Zhenya Strigalev.

Mon 11: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 11: Interim Final Recitals @ Newcastle University. Details TBC.

Tue 12: Stu Collingwood Organ Trio @ Forum Music Centre, Darlington. 7:00pm. £10.00.

Sunday, November 06, 2016

Early Bird Band @ Jazz Café - Saturday morning, November 5.

Number One wife was nervous watching them without Francis and the new guitarist seemed nervous when he realised we were his parents (sat with his mother). No need, Lord Paul knows his business and, with no shortage of willing pianists in the band, there was no compulsion to put in another guitarist if there wasn't anyone good enough, but there was, and a very different type of guitarist to Francis.
The set began with Yardbird SuiteBen and James inseparable on trumpets before Ben took the solo. A newcomer, Alex Thompson, took the first of a number of great alto solos followed by Lord Paul. On clarinet for the set, the MD exchanged fours with the ever impeccable Matthew Mackellar.
Bye Bye Blackbird followed, the two trumpets really are playing well together now. James took the solo followed by Alex, with Dr Phil displaying a gentle touch - variety and inventiveness making total sense.
With just over twenty in the Caff, mostly, but not exclusively, friends and family, Lord Paul took the opportunity to remind us they'd had a mere ninety minutes rehearsal. It never ceases to amaze me that such young musicians (16-18 yrs) can do this.
Mercy Mercy Mercy by Cannonball, courtesy Zawinul, and fine solos by Ryan De Silva, and Hedges  -the best solo I've heard him (Hedges) play, subtly reflecting back to the melody a couple of times.
Mathew Downey up next on guitar, a nice bluesy feel, spending time at the bass end - he also plays upright bass - which makes for a greater impact when he climbs up the scales. Takes his time more than his predecessor, building it up as he went along and creating a thoughtful, satisfying solo while putting his own stamp on it,. Dr Phil showing why he's a great accompanist too. 
The assembled horns came back in with an almighty sound many big bands would die for! Lord Paul’s flitting about on clarinet adds colour, before it grounds to an ending which Lord Paul admitted they hadn't planned. 
Paul described Sergio Mihanovich’s Some Time Ago as lovely and it was. Lush guitar chords when saxes were joined by brass before Ben took a solo, nice piano fills behind him. Clarinet solo and it ended with 'lines' from the full horn section, impeccably executed.
Blues Walk from the Clifford Brown/Max Roach book, so I'm guessing at a James suggestion, which they played entirely by ear. The restoration of an Early Bird tradition with one bass solo in the final piece, some tasteful comping from the guitarist, leading into another powerhouse performance by the drummer. We're used to never hearing a bum bass note from the Early Birds and this tradition is another which looks set to continue - another pair of size elevens filled.
More from Ryan - Paul's found two cracking alto players - followed by a ‘bone solo and my nomination for the most improved musician in the band.
Following the final performance by the previous lineup, Editor Lance said the horns were slightly under par, and I agreed, but this morning they were spot on, solid throughout and they brought it to a grand finale.
In my estimation they're already ready for a bigger platform and I'm looking forward to seeing them supporting a major local band or travelling musician at a Caff, Globe, College or Church Hall very soon.
Steve T.
Paul Edis (clarinet, MD), Ben Lawrence, James Metcalfe (trumpets), Ryan De Silva, Alex Thompson (alto), Andrew Hedges (trombone), Mathew Downey (guitar), Phil Grobe (piano), Alex Chipsey (bass), Matthew Mackellar(drums).

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