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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.

Sunday, January 22, 2017

Graeme Wilson Quintet @ Opus 4, Travellers Rest, Darlington January 20.

Noel Dennis (trumpet, flugelhorn), Graeme Wilson (tenor sax), Paul Edis (piano), Mick Shoulder (bass), Adam Sinclair (drums).
(Review by Steve T)
That great Modern Jazz warhorse, from bebop pioneers Bird and Diz and Bird and Miles, through Miles and Trane and Miles and Wayne and a timely return to Darlo with Noel and Graeme. To these ears, nothing in Jazz can quite match the standard quintet.
An enthusiastic crowd of around thirty knew these musicians well but were almost entirely the senior male end, which is a shame cos a relative youngster and a relatively young couple turned up and clearly got it. Another chap told me his missus was supposed to come but then couldn't, which is a shame cos you know she'd have got it too. Hasn't anybody told the young people of Darlo that Jazz is cool again, like it ever wasn't?
Straight into Airegin by Sonny Rollins with a round of solos, sans drums, to get everyone - band and audience - warmed up.
Then the warm and likeable Scotsman - like a Geordie with his brains intact - promised some standards and some Trane. Normally his quartet play his original music, which is great cos he can write too, but it seemed appropriate with the brass, and a welcome change for him to pay tribute to some of his influences.
Then, just to keep us on our toes, he played one of his own, I think called Strolling with Mae.
Fe Fi Fo Fum followed from Wayne Shorter, and no surprise that Noel Dennis suggested it. It's great that Shorter is increasingly being recognised as one of the greats; despite a critically acclaimed solo career spanning over half a century, being one of the great Jazz Messengers and, with Zawinul, the only constant presence in Weather Report, his most golden and most high profile gig, as a towering figure in the Second Great Quintet, was spent under the shadow of the saxophonist in the first great Miles Davis Quintet.
Which brings us nicely to the next piece and the man who must be his primary influence, with a cut from Giant Steps called Syeeda’s Song Flute.
Jobim’s No More Blues closed side one with some excellent Brazilia from Noel and some suitably Latin drums and percussion from Adam. Dennis, typically alternating between trumpet and flugel, took the first solo, laying down the gauntlet and the leader (and spiritual leader of those of us smitten by bright coloured shirts), typically responded in fine fettle. Lord Paul is never not on form but tonight he was positively on fire, regular hints of humour coming through amongst his huge reservoir of references. Sinclair took his only solo of the first part, illustrating why he's up with the best of the North East’s impressive ranks of Jazz drummers.
Side two opened with more Trane and some Lee Morgan, but I was listening on the way out as my much better half confirmed I'd consumed sufficient Guinness, and that number two son loves that Friday night warhorse, the standard Chinese takeaway supper.
The programme at the club is highly impressive right through to July, not least the next night, on Feb 10 when Lord Paul and his trio are playing it straight for the return to the region of the inimitable Alan Barnes for his first appearance since his triumphant Christmas Carol Concert.
Steve T.

1 comment :

Russell said...

So, the Traveller's Rest was about half full/half empty (it depends which glass you're drinking from). Although Graeme has played Opus 4 in the past, it's a case of - for some - 'I've never heard of him, I won't bother'. Next month the room will be packed - as it should be - for the appearance of Alan Barnes. Graeme is soon to appear at Newcastle's Jazz Café - make the effort, it will be well worth it.

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