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Bebop Spoken There

Billy Boy Arnold: “As long as you don't think old you're good.” - DownBeat, December, 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!"

Simon Spillett: A lovely review from the dean of jazz bloggers, Lance Liddle...

Postage

16051 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 1058 of them this year alone and, so far, 12 this month (Dec. 6).

From This Moment On ...

December

Sun 10: Musicians Unlimited’s Xmas Party with Zoë Gilby Quartet @ Park Inn, Hartlepool. MU 1:00-3:00pm; Zoë Gilby Quartet 4:00-6:00pm. Tickets: £7.50.
Sun 10: Alan Law, Paul Grainger & Abbie Finn @ Darlington Market, Market Square, Darlington. 1:00pm. Free. A ‘Christmas Market’ outdoor gig. Wrap up warm!
Sun 10: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00-4:00pm. Free.
Sun 10: Funk Soul Sista @ Stack, Seaburn. 5:00-7:00pm. Free.
Sun 10: Beth Clarke @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 10: Hayley's Little Big Band @ Whittingham Memorial Institute, Alnwick. 7:30pm. £12.00., £10.00.
Sun 10: Tele-Port @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Line-up inc. Zhenya Strigalev.

Mon 11: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 11: Interim Final Recitals @ Newcastle University. Details TBC.

Tue 12: Stu Collingwood Organ Trio @ Forum Music Centre, Darlington. 7:00pm. £10.00.

Wed 13: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 13: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 13: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 13: Bold Big Band @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm.
Wed 13: Giles Strong Quartet @ Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thu 14: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 14: Hot Fingers @ The Lubetkin Theatre, Peterlee. 7:00pm. £10.00.
Thu 14: After Hours Student Jazz Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 14: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. . Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 14: Niffi Osiyemi Trio @ Harbour View, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 14: Mo Scott ‘Little Mo’s Festive Appearance’ @ The Schooner, Gateshead. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 14: Tees Hot Club w. Kevin Eland, Josh Bentham, Garry Hadfield, Adrian Beadnell @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Fri 15: Paul Edis @ Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 15: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 15: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 15: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 15: Paul Skerritt @ Black Horse Inn, Crook. From 7:00pm.
Fri 15: Paul Edis: A Jazzy Christmas @ St Cuhtbert's Centre, Crook. 7:30pm. £15.00. SOLD OUT! Waiting list open.
Fri 15: Zoë Gilby Trio @ Seventeen Nineteen, Hendon, Sunderland. 7:30pm. £12.00. POSTPONED!
Fri 15: Strictly Smokin' Big Band @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 8:00pm. First night of two. SOLD OUT!
Fri 15: Darlington Big Band @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £10.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 15: Baghdaddies @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00.; £10.00.

Sat 16: Paul Edis: A Jazzy Christmas @ Sage Gateshead. 2:00pm. A Jazzy Christmas + Jambone.
Sat 16: Porritt & Barrett & Friends Xmas Special @ Cullercoats Watch House. 7:00pm. £4.00.
Sat 16: Milne-Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 16: Red Kites Jazz Band @ The Staithes Café, Gateshead. 7:00pm--9:00pm.
Sat 16: Hayley's Little Big Band @ Ellingham Village Hall, Chathill. 7:30pm. £12.00., £8.00.
Sat 16: Paul Edis: A Jazzy Christmas @ Sage Gateshead. 8:00pm.
Sat 16: Strictly Smokin' Big Band @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Second night of two.

Thursday, May 04, 2017

Darlington Jazz Festival: Dave O’Higgins @ The Majestic Theatre - Saturday April 29

(Review by Russell)
Saturday evening is the big set piece occasion at the Darlington Jazz Festival. This year’s big ‘do’ relocated to the recently restored Majestic Theatre on Bondgate. This ‘majestic’ 1930s Art Deco building (lots of marble, many original features retained) with its large stage accommodated a big band with ease. The Durham Alumni Big Band is one of the best in the land with a succession of big name guest artists singing its praises. This evening’s soloist, Dave O’Higgins, similarly heaped praise on ‘this magnificent big band’.

This sold out concert began with a set from the Durham County Youth Big Band. Awards come the way of DCYBB on a regular basis. At the heart of it is the dedication of Durham Music Service tutors working year round to nurture the musicians of tomorrow. The young musicians in the band looked the part and the performance belied their years. MD Shaune Eland assembled his charges in the wings ready to take to the platform on time (a learning experience, be ready to go on time!). The sections boasted mid-teen veterans of top flight regional jam sessions, professional gigs and occupants of coveted chairs in the senior Alumni band. Any self-respecting big band will have one or two Sammy Nestico charts in the book and the Durham County Youth Big Band is one of them. Orange Sherbet and Odyssey were on the set list and, Basie-like, the DCYBB purred and purred. Bacharach and David’s The Look of Love featured alto saxophonist Beth Roberts. Of late, Roberts has held her own at jam sessions (sessions of frighteningly high standard). This high profile festival concert would appear to have held few fears for the promising altoist. Guest artist Dave O’Higgins graciously joined the orchestra to play tenor on Misty. A memorable occasion for all concerned.

The Durham Alumni Big Band took to the stage on time…all but one. Running late, Omar Shade, baritone sax, risked the wrath of MD Shaune Eland! Credit to the young man he literally held up his hands as he took his seat in the section. MD Eland could but laugh! The first set ranged from Cole Porter to Wayne Shorter to a Ted Heath arrangement of Fats Waller. Matt Roberts’ arrangement of Shorter’s Lady Day featured Dave O’Higgins (O'Higgins out front in lounge suit, behind him the band in dickie bows) and the sheer class stood out a mile. The arranger M Roberts was in the house. An Al Wood arrangement of Ted Heath’s version of Honeysuckle Rose highlighted the work of the ace trumpet section: Messrs Ian Robinson, Matthew Robinson, Tom Hill, Jonny Dunn and Gordon Marshall. The arranger, Mr Wood, a keen supporter of Darlington Jazz Festival, was in the house.

The interval at a gig is a chance to take five, enjoy a drink and exchange pleasantries. For some it is a busy old time. Danielle Drew and colleagues worked throughout – ‘doing the door’, sorting out the raffle and attending to a thousand and one other matters. Danielle and other unsung volunteers make Darlington Jazz Festival what it is – the friendliest of festivals.

Matthew Robinson almost stole the show at the beginning of the second set. Standing out front, a measured, confident trumpet solo on St Louis Blues won huge applause. Dave O’Higgins inspired the band to ever greater heights. He introduced two of his own compositions – The Road to Rack and Ruin and New Orleans. The latter number allowed MD Eland to take a break, O'Higgins himself content to let the band play. Drummer Stephen Fletcher set up and maintained a Louisiana shuffle as all and sundry had a blast, not least pianist Dean Stockdale, Alex Baker (alto) and D O’Higgins himself. The Majestic Theatre proved to be an ideal venue, the Durham Alumni Big Band and the  Durham County Youth Big Band did themselves proud, in conclusion, an all round success.
Russell
Durham Alumni Big Band: Director Shaune Eland; saxophones Alex Baker, Kirsty Dunn, Daniel Johnson, Jake Steels, Omar Shade; trumpets Ian Robinson, Jonny Dunn, Tom Hill, Matthew Robinson, Gordon Marshall; trombones Alastair Wood, Terry O’Hern, Andrew Kirtley, Dave Hamilton; rhythm section Dean Stockdale, Shaun Henderson, Amy Baker, Stephen Fletcher


Durham County Youth Big Band: Director Shaune Eland; saxophones Beth Roberts, Joe Hesleton, Omar Shade, Tom Joashi, Ben Knivett; trumpets Matthew Robinson, Alice Huseyinoglu, Bethany Windle, Jonathan Hopkins, Suzy Lucas; trombones Matthew Hopkins, Becky Potter, Andrew Hedges, James Terrill; rhythm section Beth Caygill, Emily Simpson, Ben Hacker, Peter Kirkman         

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