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Bebop Spoken There

Branford Marsalis: "As ignorance often forces us to do, you make a generalisation about a musician based on one specific record or one moment in time." - (Jazzwise 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

15491 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 512 of them this year alone and, so far, 133 this month (May 31).

From This Moment On ...

Tue 06: Paul Skerritt @ The Rabbit Hole, Hallgarth St., Durham DH1 3AT. 7:00pm. Paul Skerritt's (solo) weekly residency.
Tue 06: Jam session @ Black Swan, Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. House trio: Stu Collingwood (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Sid White (drums).

Wed 07: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 07: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 07: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:00pm.
Wed 07: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thu 08: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free. CANCELLED! BACK ON JUNE 15.
Thu 08: Easington Colliery Brass Band @ The Lubetkin Theatre, Peterlee. 7:00pm. £10.00.
Thu 08: Faye MacCalman + Blue Dust Archive @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Thu 08: Dilutey Juice + Ceramic @ The Ampitheatre, Sea Road, South Shields. 7:00pm. Free. A South Tyneside Festival event.
Thu 08: Lara Jones w. Vigilance State @ Lubber Fiend, Blandford Square, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Thu 08: Michael Littlefield @ the Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Country blues.
Thu 08: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Fri 09: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 09: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.
Fri 09: Castillo Nuevo @ Revolución de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30-8:30pm.
Fri 09: Emma Rawicz @ Sage Gateshead. 8:00pm.

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: 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.

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

Saturday, February 04, 2017

New Century Ragtime Orchestra with Keith Nichols & Nick Ward @ The Caedmon Hall, Gateshead. February 3

(Review by Russell)
Welcome to the New Century Ragtime Orchestra’s twentieth annual concert in Gateshead… what an achievement! Several members of the orchestra were there at the beginning. As much as band mastermind Dave Kerr tries, he just can’t get shot of them! Seriously, the longevity of an orchestra dedicated to uncovering lesser known charts of the period (c.1890-1935) and presenting the music to an audience on a regular basis is no mean feat.
Befitting of the occasion, Keith Nichols, a long-standing friend of the orchestra, appeared as guest star, together with Brummie period percussion specialist Nick Ward. A full house at Caedmon Hall enjoyed two sets of ragtime, swing and popular song. Sweet Jennie Lee for starters, then Ellington (MC Steve Andrews joked that they might as well get Ellington out of the way!), Cole Porter’s Let’s Do It (a first vocal feature of the evening for Caroline Irwin) and I Can’t Give You Anything But Love (Baby).

Keith Nichols’ first contribution, accompanied by Nick Ward (the orchestra made a dash for the bar, not that they didn’t appreciate Nichols’ talents, they simply wanted another drink!) included Maceo Pinkard’s Sugar and a brilliant rendition of James P Johnson’s The Mule Walk.

Caroline Irwin returned to the stage with the reassembled orchestra to sing Irving Berlin’s You’d be Surprised. Steve Andrews has a penchant for gently poking fun at one or two members of the band and on this occasion he had Ms Irwin in his sights. The diminutive Irwin gave as good as she got – if you dish it out…To close an enjoyable first set Andrews himself sang Nagasaki (tongue-twisting lyrics to boot) and played with his new toy – a baritone saxophone! Someone enquired how much it was worth, Andrews replied: I’d accept two grand for it!

Numerous raffle prizes found a home, someone found the band in the bar, and soon we were into the second set. Deep Henderson, then Chattanooga Stomp (Keith Stephen, on banjo, Gavin Lee, clarinet). Irwin wanted to Get Out and Get Under the Moon following up with a new chart in the pad It Was Only a Sun Shower. Target number two: Andrews waxed lyrical about Louis Armstrong and his world famous recording of West End Blues. Looking at Graham Hardy, MC Andrews wished the bearded trumpeter all the best. Hardy stood up…Louis’ intro surely a terrifying prospect? It should be noted that G Hardy lives to tell the tale. Take a bow Graham!

Keith Nichols and Nick Ward resumed their partnership with a selection from the 1928 stage show Blackbirds of 1928 (the production made Adelaide Hall’s name). At times playing at a bewildering speed, Nichols found time, without breaking stride, to quip: You think this looks easy! A virtuoso.
Steve Andrews – baritone sax in hand – made it a trio in joining the evening’s guest stars to play Sophisticated Lady. A magical performance ensued, prefaced by typical jazz musician wit. Steve and Keith suggesting two alternative titles…Suffocated Lady in A Flat or Suffocated Lady in a flat. Spot the difference.
A marvellous evening with the New Century Ragtime Orchestra. Here’s to the next twenty years!
Russell.          

The New Century Ragtime Orchestra: Ed Cross (violin), Jim McBriarty (clarinet, alto sax, soprano sax & vocals), Alan Marshall (clarinet, alto sax & soprano sax), Gavin Lee (clarinet, tenor sax & soprano sax),Steve Andrews (MC, clarinet, baritone sax & vocals), Alex Lewis (trumpet), Graham Hardy (trumpet), Neville Hartley (trombone), Colin Haikney (piano), Keith Stephen (banjo & guitar), Phil Rutherford (sousaphone) & Caroline Irwin (vocals) + Keith Nichols (piano & vocals) & Nick Ward (drums)  

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