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Bebop Spoken There

Abbie Finn: "Even though there's a lot of great work being done to promote women in jazz, I still come up against some attitudes! I pulled up at a recording session with my drums in the car and the studio owner said, 'I'm sorry, this space is reserved for the drummer!'" - (Jazzwise April 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

15245 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 264 of them this year alone and, so far, 77 this month (March 25).

From This Moment On ...

March

Tue 28: Paul Skerritt @ The Rabbit Hole, Hallgarth St., Durham DH1 3AT. 7:00pm. Paul Skerritt's (solo) weekly residency.
Tue 28: Sanaz Lavasani Trio + Abbie Finn @ Black Swan, Newcastle Arts Centre. 8:00pm. £12.00 (£10.00. adv).

Wed 29: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 29: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 29: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:00pm.
Wed 29: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thu 30: Gateshead Jazz Appreciation Society @ Gateshead Central Library. 2:30-4:30pm. £2.00. All welcome.
Thu 30: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. Back to 1:00pm stomp off. Free.
Thu 30: Castillo Nuevo @ Revolución de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30-8:30pm.
Thu 30: '58 Jazz Collective @ Hops & Cheese, Hartlepool. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 30: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Harbour View, Sunderland. 8:00pm.
Thu 30: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Fri 31: Lewis Watson Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Town Hall. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 31: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 31: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 31: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm. CANCELLED! Back next week (April 7).
Fri 31: Castillo Nuevo @ Revolución de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30-8:30pm.
Fri 31: Jasmine Myra + Waclaw Zimpel @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Fri 31: The Revolutionaires @ The Shack, Boldon Colliery. 7:30pm. £10.00. The Revolutionaires' big band (horn section) line-up.
Fri 31: Andrew McCormack @ Maltings, Berwick. 8:00pm. £20.00.

April
Sat 01: The Big Easy @ St Augustine's Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm.
Sat 01: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. Tutor: Steve Glendinning - In a Minor Key. £25.00. Enrol at: www.jazz.coop.
Sat 01: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington Covered Market, Darlington DL1 5PN. 6:00pm. New venue, live jazz!
Sat 01: Boys of Brass @ Stack, Seaburn. 7:00-9:00pm.
Sat 01: Hot Club du Nord @ Pleased to Meet You, Bridge St., Morpeth. 8:00pm. £79.00. A charity fundraising event.
Sat 01: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00. RESCHEDULED to next week (Sat 08).

Sun 02: Smokin' Spitfires @ The Cluny. 12:45pm.
Sun 02: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 3:00pm.

Mon 03: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.

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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