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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

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 @ The Glasshouse, 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 @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.
Sat 16: Strictly Smokin' Big Band @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Second night of two.

Sun 17: Red Kites Jazz Band @ Gibside Chapel, nr. Rowlands Gill. 1:00-2:30pm.
Sun 17: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm.
Sun 17: Revolutionaires @ Tyne Bar, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Rock ‘n’ roll excellence!
Sun 17: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Alehouse, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 17: The Globe Xmas Party @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Multi-bill inc. David Gray’s Flextet + jam session.
Sun 17: Paul Edis: A Jazzy Christmas @ Queen's Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm. £17.00., £15.00.
Sun 17: Hayley's Little Big Band @ Amble Parish Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00., £6.00.
Sun 17: Snake Davis Trio @ St John’s Hall, Snods Edge, Shotley Bridge DH8 9TJ. 7:30pm. £15.00. from 07766 037893.

Wednesday, June 14, 2017

A Night of Swing @ Newcastle University - June 13

(Review by Russell)
King’s Hall hosted the jazz evening of this year’s Newcastle University Summer Music Festival. The week-long, end of term, mid-summer jamboree celebrates a year of student music making encompassing classical, folk, new music, and, tonight’s offering, jazz. Charles Philp, this year’s festival ‘chair’ and erstwhile occasional participant at the Jazz Café’s top flight jam session, has knocked into shape the 2016-2017 edition of the Newcastle University Jazz Orchestra. Guitarist Philp left his instrument in its case as he took to the stage to conduct the band for the last time.
Newcastle University Jazz Orchestra can proudly boast that it is the only big band to have taken part in the Great North Big Band Jazz Festival every year since its inception. Indeed, the band’s debut appearance was a winning one. 2017’s line-up included no fewer than seven saxophones (five of them altos!), just three trumpets and three trombones and a beefed-up rhythm section as Nick Loughlin (guitar) joined the engine room boys. A familiar face or two – the principle soloists within their sections – shone; trumpeter Joe Davies has made his mark at the Jazz Café’s twice-monthly hot-shot jam session and County Durham Youth Big Band trombone star Tom McDonald.

The evening’s performance was streamed live on Facebook. The King’s Hall’s acoustics don’t do much for a big band, nevertheless, Philp’s outfit pressed the pedal to the floor determined to sign off in style. From A Train to The Jazz Police, the first set rattled along. Splanky was Basie-ish as Neal Hefti intended, and soon-to-graduate Becky Wilson’s clarinet struggled to make itself heard above the orchestra on Moonlight Serenade. Bassist Ifede Osiyemi stepped out front to sing a few numbers (guitarist Loughlin filling in on bass). His voice projecting to the gallery, Osiyemi engaged with the audience particularly on Straighten Up and Fly Right. A talented young man, let’s hear him jamming on Pink Lane.  

MD Charlie Philp put his heart and soul into this farewell performance. He and several of his fellow students are moving on. The sections met with Philp’s approval and the orchestra’s three featured soloists – trumpeter Joe Davies, trombonist Tom McDonald, and Sarah Appleby playing tenor – did all, and more, that was required of them. Philp bounced around to the Manteca beat, and again on Flight of the Foo Birds. Sitting at a Steinway, pianist George Simon played with great enthusiasm – another talent sure to be made welcome at a jam session, likewise the more than competent Harry Still behind the traps. On this evidence, next term’s Newcastle University Jazz Orchestra could be a contender for honours at the 2018 GNBBJF.                                        

Newcastle University Jazz Orchestra: Charles Philp, MD; reeds Becky Wilson (alto & clarinet), Chloe Nash (alto), Esther Coombes (alto), Michael Oates (alto), Sam Fox (alto), Sarah Appleby (tenor & flute), Cristina Rodriguez-Booth (baritone); trumpets Joe Davies, Simon Hirst, Becca Twist; trombones Thomas McDonald, Tim Rodaway, Alex Utting; Dome Hukhoi (guitar), Nick Loughlin (guitar), George Simons (piano), Ifede Osiyemi (bass & vocals) & Harry Still (drums)

Earlier in the evening, three musicians paid homage to Django Reinhardt. The Northern Trio, a trio new to Bebop Spoken Here, played acoustically for about half an hour. Two guitarists, one violinist, Gauloises (imaginary), berets (similarly of the imagination), Charlie, Clémênt and Gabriel made an impression. Their names wouldn’t be out of place in Montparnasse.      

A Night of Swing said the programme notes. The young Hot Clubbers got stuck in. Charlie Gordon and Clément Lemêtre (yes, he’s from Paris!) exchanged solos and complimented one another with regulation rhythm accompaniment. Grappelli –aka Gabriel May – sat between the two and all three musicians took a little while to relax into their performance. Grouped tightly together in the vast hall audience ears were cocked to hear the intimate musical conversation of the Manouche Three. The choice of material was regulation stuff; All of Me, Sheik of Araby, Coquette, all performed with care and due reverence. A Night of Swing, small group and big band. Philp and co put on a great show.      
The Northern Trio: Charlie Gordon (guitar), Clément Lemêtre (guitar) & Gabriel May (violin).   
Russell.

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