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Bebop Spoken There

Kelly Sill: "Just because everyone is playing through the changes in the same time doesn't mean they're actually playing together" - (JazzTimes March/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

15260 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 279 of them this year alone and, so far, 92 this month (March 29).

From This Moment On ...

April

Sun 02: Smokin' Spitfires @ The Cluny. 12:45pm.
Sun 02: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 3:00pm.

Mon 03: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.

Tue 04: Paul Skerritt @ The Rabbit Hole, Hallgarth St., Durham DH1 3AT. 7:00pm. Paul Skerritt's (solo) weekly residency.
Tue 04: Jam session @ Black Swan, Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. House trio: Bradley Johnston (guitar); Paul Grainger (double bass); Abbie Finn (drums).

Wed 05: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 05: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 05: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:00pm.
Wed 05: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thu 06: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 06: Thursday Night Prayer Meeting @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Donations. Feat. John Pope, Marie Shreer, John Garner.
Thu 06: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibtion Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Ragtime piano. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.
Thu 06: Darlington Big Band @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Note earlier start time.

Fri 07: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 07: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.
Fri 07: Gaz Hughes Trio @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm.
Fri 07: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Traveller's Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 07: Finntet + Zoë Gilby & Andy Champion @ Bobik's, Punch Bowl, Newcastle. 8:00pm. JNE.
Fri 07: TBA @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig. Blind Pig Blues Club.

Sat 08: Me Lost Me + Ceitidh Mac + Heather Ferrier @ Bobik's, Punch Bowl, Newcastle. 7:30pm. JNE.
Sat 08: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington Covered Market, Darlington DL1 5PN. 6:00pm. New venue, live jazz!
Sat 08: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00. RESCHEDULED from last week (Sat 01).
Sat 08: Robbie Reay @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Acoustic blues. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.
Sat 08: Anth Purdy @ Mr Tighe's, Bebside, Northumberland. 8:30pm.

Monday, December 19, 2016

George MacDonald & James Birkett with the Roly Veitch Trio @ The Black Bull December 18.

George MacDonald (clarinet), James Birkett (guitar), Roly Veitch (guitar & vocals), Paul Grainger (double bass) & David Francis (drums)
(Review by Russell/Photos courtesy of Bradley Johnston & Roly).
The Black Bull staff prepared the room for Blaydon Jazz Club’s annual Christmas party. A long table set aside would soon be groaning under the weight of a food mountain. The tradition is to bring an offering, be it savoury or sweet. Donated items boosted the raffle resulting in no fewer than nine prizes being up for grabs. At precisely eight the orchestra began the evening’s entertainment playing to a full house.

Autumn Leaves opened the set. Messrs MacDonald, Veitch, Birkett, Grainger and Francis introduced themselves, musically speaking, one by one. Mr George MacDonald (clarinet) enjoys the respect of all – musicians and listeners alike – as a first class musician and as a most amiable character. A working life, principally as a member of the Northern Sinfonia based on Tyneside, established Canadian ex-pat Mr MacDonald’s reputation among peers in the classical field and beyond. Happily revisiting his jazz-playing youth, MacDonald’s hero – Benny Goodman – was, and is, with him in spirit whilst on stage. A Black Bull gig in the company of friend James Birkett couldn’t be other than a stroll through some of the great songs of the twentieth century. Ain’t Misbehavin’ called upon guitarists Birkett and Veitch to do their thing – contrasting, complementary styles, supported by a sympathetic, easy-going bass and drums partnership comprising Paul Grainger and David Francis.

The star of the show, George MacDonald, sat centre stage, in his element listening to, and playing clarinet on a selection of classic numbers; Wave, a swift Flying Home, prompting MacDonald to say: That was really cookin’, as the Americans would say!  Then Someone to Watch over Me a brief calming interlude before MacDonald called a ridiculously super fast tempo on Lady Be Good. The younger men of the ensemble did their best to keep up!

The interval – the full house scaled the food mountain, the numerous raffle prizes found a home and before long Mr MacDonald suggested It Don’t Mean a Thing…Yes, the quintet returned to the stage, and off they went, most definitely with that swing. More Jobim took it down a notch, a time for Meditation. Our clarinet star featured on Over the Rainbow (a request) and A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square, the audience stilled. A tasteful solo with brushes in hand from David Francis on Don’t Get Around Much Anymore caught the approving ear of Mr MacDonald. Blaydon Jazz Club’s Christmas gathering couldn’t have gone any better. Highlights were many, a particular highlight being a lightning fast take on After You’ve Gone. MacDonald set the pace, Veitch, Birkett, Grainger and Francis did their level best to hang on to the coat-tails of the Canadian clarinet virtuoso as he almost disappeared over the horizon. Come on boys, keep up!
Blaydon Jazz Club will reconvene in March next year, details to be advised, please check Bebop Spoken Here nearer the time.
Photos.             

Russell.          

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