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Bebop Spoken There

James Brandon Lewis: "Sometimes I'm not thinking about anything other than blowing the paint off the walls, and other times I'm narrating a story about my life." - (DownBeat June 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

15516 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 536 of them this year alone and, so far, 25 this month (June 7).

From This Moment On ...

Sat 10: Miners' Picnic @ Woodhorn, Ashington. Music inc. Northern Monkey Brass Band (3:00-3:50pm); New York Brass Band (4:00-4:55pm).
Sat 10: Jeffrey Hewer @ The Vault, Darlington Covered Market, Darlington. 6:00-8:00pm. Free.
Sat 10: Front Porch Three @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Americana, blues, jazz etc.
Sat 10: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.

Sun 11: WORKSHOP: Tim Richards' Jazz Piano Workshop @ JG Windows, Newcastle. Time TBC. Further details tel. 0191 232 1356.
Sun 11: Jeremy McMurray's Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Ropner Park, Stockton TS18 4EF. 2:00-4:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 11: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 3:00pm.
Sun 11: Groovetrain @ Innisfree Sports & Social Club, Longbenton NE12 8TY. Doors 6:30pm. £15.00 (£7.00. under 16).
Sun 11: Jeffrey Hewer Collective @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 11: Jam No. 19 @ Fabio's Bar, Saddler Street, Durham. 8:00pm. Free. All welcome. A Durham University Jazz Society event.

Mon 12: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.

Tue 13: Paul Skerritt @ The Rabbit Hole, Hallgarth St., Durham DH1 3AT. 7:00pm. Paul Skerritt's (solo) weekly residency.
Tue 13: Infusion Trio @ Forum Music Centre, Darlington. 7:30pm.
Tue 13: Alice Grace & Pawel Jedrzejewski @ Black Swan, Newcastle Arts Centre. 8:00pm. £12.00 (£10.00. adv.).

Wed 14: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 14: NUJO Final Jazz Jam @ Bar Loco, Newcastle. 6:30pm. Free. Newcastle University Jazz Orchestra's final jam session of the academic year. All welcome.
Wed 14: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 14: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:00pm.
Wed 14: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thu 15: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 15: Gateshead Jazz Appreciation Society @ Gateshead Central Library. 2:30-4:30pm. £2.00. All welcome.
Thu 15: Castillo Nuevo @ Revolución de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30-8:30pm.
Thu 15: Alexander Ord Trio @ Tynedale Beer & Cider Festival, Tynedale Rugby Club, Corbridge. Evening, time TBC.
Thu 15: Têtes de Pois + Nauta @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. Time TBC.
Thu 15: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 16: Sue Ferris Quintet @ Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 16: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 16: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 16: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.
Fri 16: Stu Collingwood @ Baltic, Gateshead. 7:00pm. £15.75. A Let's Caper event featuring exhibitions, food, music etc.
Fri 16: Steve Beresford-Hannah Marshall-John Butcher @ Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 7:30pm. JNE promotion.
Fri 16: James Taylor Quartet @ Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.
Fri 16: Customs House Big Band @ Customs House, South Shields. 7:30pm.
Fri 16: Sue Ferris Quintet @ Traveller's Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm.
Fri 16: New Orleans Brass Band @ Billy Bootlegger's, Arch 2, Stepney Bank, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. NOBB directed by Jason Holcomb.

Sunday, February 19, 2017

Bruce Adams w. Strictly Smokin' Big Band @ Globe Jazz Bar February 18













(Review and b&w photos by Lance/Colour photos courtesy of Ken Drew).

This was a near-perfect Jazz Coop gig. How could it not be with the UK's number one big band trumpet ace playing with what many would claim to be the UK's number one big band?
SSBB hit the deck running with Gerry Mulligan's Red Door. Jamie Toms indicating in his fiery solo that he was well and truly up for it.
Old Man River introduced guest trumpet player Adams who made the most dynamic entry of any trumpet player I've ever heard. He came on like a tidal surge starting round about top C and just getting higher and higher - phew! If the evening had ended then I'd have gone home happy.
But, this was just the beginning!
Adams' frequent sidekick, Alan Barnes, supplied the next number - Side Steppin' - great tune and another great solo.
I Can't Believe You're In-Laws With me - a quirky title for a feature that had the two tenors Kerridge and Toms slugging it out no holds barred.
Time for a vocal or three by F'reez who obliged with Higher Ground, Sunny and my favourite jazz waltz (apart from Bluesette) The Mood I'm in. The band slotted in the Film Noir 1 piece that they do so well. David Barnes' trombone helping to bring those mean streets to life - come to think of it I walked down a few getting here...
Graham Don impressed on Pianitis.
Bruce came back for a quasi Dixie arrangement of Darktown Strutters Ball. Shades of the old Billy May album, Sorta Dixie. Keith Robinson blowing clarinet.
The set came to a close with an arrangement by Marvin Stamm of Secret Love, our star switching to flugel for this one
Time to replenish our glasses.
What's this? Ran out of real ale! The busiest jazz night of the year so far and not enough ale. As I said earlier, a near-perfect gig...
However, suitably sedated with a bottle of Wylam Brewery's Bohemia, beverages became a back number as the Big Band bounced back with Benny Golson's Whisper Not. Toms, Kerridge, Lamb, Pawel, Summers and one of the 'bones led the charge to the line.
Pronk had Pawel pronking whilst Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea saw the saxes play a perfectly balanced chorus that drew the applause - as did David Barnes' trombone solo.
Minor's Holiday featured Bruce, Kerridge and some fine drumming from Tom Chapman - first time I've heard him with the band.
You Can't Go Home Again, a Don Sebesky number recorded by Chet Baker and Paul Desmond, had Bruce switching from flugel to trumpet and back again. I Love You, a straight ahead swinger.
F'reez returned for Gambling Man Blues and On a Clear Day.
Bruce played Ozone Friendly then One Note at a Time.
This latter number was a real blast featuring Adams, Tanton and Lamb so no pressure on our lads! They acquitted themselves well, not trying to beat  Bruce at his own game but capitalising on their own strengths.
The finale/encore, Sorta Ragtime dates back to a later version of Kenny Baker's Dozen of which Adams was a part. Imagine that, Bruce and Kenny in the same band!
David Barnes, Kerridge, Toms, Summers, Robinson and Don all soloing as of course was Man of the Match, Bruce Adams.
Nice gig, shame about the beer!
Lance.

3 comments :

Russell said...

Ken's photograph of Bruce Adams playing flugelhorn shows a 'no smoking' sign on the wall...somewhat incongruous at this Strictly Smokin' gig!

Hugh said...

This gig was not just smokin', it was on fire! Agree Lance, shame about the ale - it was all gone by the time I arrived just after 8 (a heavy demand on Friday according to bar staff). After my first pint of draft IPA (which also ran dry) I was reduced to drinking lager. I took the recommendation of one of the bar staff, Leffes, which was OK, but tasted much better (once it warmed up a bit!

Lance said...

Omitted to mention, in my review, the sterling section work by Gordon Marshall and Tom Hill. Both of whom were singled out by Bruce Adams. Also Michael Whent on bass guitar. Many have said that the bass is the most important member of any band - and the least acknowledged. Likewise the trombones, I know the names and the faces but can never connect the two! All did a sterling job. Plus my old acquaintance Laurie, as good an anchorman as you'll find in any sax section outside of LA (Lower Ashington). Joke over, he does the biz.

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