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Bebop Spoken There

Simon Spillett: “ Bebop and hard bop came naturally to him [Tubby Hayes]". Morning Star, March 28, 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

Fri 29: FILM: Soul @ The Forum Cinema, Hexham. 12:30pm. Jazz-themed film animation.
Fri 29: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 29: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 29: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 29: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 6:00pm. Free. POSTPONED!
Fri 29: Thundercat @ Newcastle City Hall.
Fri 29: John Logan @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 29: True Colours @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 9:00pm. Blues, jazz & swing.

Sat 30: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 30: Pete Tanton’s Cuba Libre @ Whitley Bay Library, York Road, Whitley Bay. 8:00pm.

Sun 31: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay Metro Station. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 31: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields NE30 1HJ. 3:00pm. Free. Lambert, Alan Law & Paul Grainger.
Sun 31: Sid Jacobs & Tom Remon @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. USA/London jazz guitar duo.
Sun 31: Bellavana @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

April
Mon 01: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 01: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 3:00pm. Free.

Tue 02: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Dean Stockdale, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 03: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 03: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 03: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 04: FILM: Soul @ Forum Cinema, Hexham. 2:00pm. Jazz-themed film animation.
Thu 04: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 04: Funky Drummer @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 04: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 04: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

CD Review: Heather Bambrick - You’ll Never Know

Heather Bambrick (vocals, whistling); Mark Kieswetter (piano); Ross MacIntyre (bass); Davide DiRenzo (drums, perc); Rob Piltch (guitar); Chase Sanborn (trumpet, flugelhorn); John Johnson (saxophones); Guido Basso (flugelhorn on 2 tracks)
(Review by Ann Alex)
I don’t remember reviewing a CD from a Canadian singer before today. Hailing from the land of Joni Mitchell and the McGarrigle sisters, Heather Bambrick has a lot to live up to, and she compares well with her countrywomen, though she is, of course. doing a different type of singing. Ms Bambrick has been active musically for 20 years, as an award-winning vocalist, voice actor, broadcaster and educator. She has performed internationally with many other artists, including Ian Shaw, who is well known to Tyneside, audiences and, of course, much further afield. The material on the CD ranges from swinging jazz standards, pop songs, an original Bambrick penned song, a Kurt Weill number and even a folk song. The voice is very pleasing and versatile and the musicians are well accomplished. And you get good value from the CD which has 14 tracks.

I Only Have Eyes for You is the usual sort of jazz song performance, with a muted trumpet solo, then a return to the song which is improvised vocally. Fair enough I thought, but the tracks get more interesting as you continue listening. Lovers In A Dangerous Game shows tension produced by brushed drums; I Can’t See For Lookin’ has amusing lyrics ‘maybe I talk too much, maybe I’ve lost my touch’; the Arlen/Koehler spiritual influenced Get Happy is sung in a more bluesy voice, with all the musicians joining in; Far From The Home I Love is a wistful, melancholy song about a woman who is homesick yet wants to stay with her man; Dedicated To You has the voice brought close to the microphone, intimate and smooth jazz. The Bambrick original, I Don’t Mind A Bit, is an amusing song similar to My Funny Valentine, with lines such as ‘and socially you’re quite a twit’, and our singer whistles a half chorus, adding to the fun. Kurt Weill’s My Ship, a beautiful song about a luxurious ship which is bringing a lover back, includes a fine and appropriate guitar solo. Other tracks are: Never Never Land; How Does It Feel; You’ll Never Know; Surrey With The Fringe On Top; A Time For Love.
I was a bit puzzled about why the final track was included. This was the Newfoundland folk song Petty Harbour Bait Skiff, concerning a fishing boat disaster, a jazzy version, well sung with just a piano accompaniment. This was a sad song to end with and although the performance was good, the song seemed as if it belonged to a different CD, perhaps a CD wholly of jazz interpretations of folk songs. Nevertheless, it didn’t detract from the enjoyment of the CD as a whole.
This CD was released on February 10, 2017.  See www.HeatherBambrick.ca 

Ann Alex

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