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Bebop Spoken There

Art Blakey: "You [Bobby Watson] don't want to play too long, because you don't know they're clapping because they're glad you finished!" - (JazzTimes, Nov. 2019)..

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

15848 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 855 of them this year alone and, so far, 53 this month (Sept. 18).

From This Moment On ...

September

Thu 21: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 21: La Malbec Orchestra @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Thu 21: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Ragtime piano. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.
Thu 21: Linsday Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Harbour View, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 21: Ray Stubbs R & B All Stars @ The Schooner, Gateshead. 8:30pm. Free.
Thu 21: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Fri 22: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 22: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 22: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.
Fri 22: Brief Encounter @ Bardon Mill Village Hall, Northumberland. 7:00pm. Tickets: £10.00. adv from 07885 303166; £12.00. on the door. Chris & Veronica Perrin improvising to a screening of the 1929 'Jazz Age' silent film Piccadilly (Dir. Ewald André Dupont).
Fri 22: Paul Edis & Graeme Wilson + Three Tsuru Origami @ Jesmond United Reformed Church, Newcastle. 7:30pm. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Fri 22: Crooners @ Tyne Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm.
Fri 22: Abbie Finn's Finntet @ Traveller's Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.

Sat 23: Tyne Valley Big Band @ Tanfield Railway, Gateshead. 2:00-4:00pm. Free. A '1940s Weekend' event.
Sat 23: Jason Isaacs @ Stack, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free.
Sat 23: Andrew Porritt & Keith Barrett @ Cullercoats Watch House, Front St., Cullercoats NE30 4QB. 7:00pm.
Sat 23: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig. Country blues.

Sun 24: Musicians Unlimited @ Park Inn, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.

Mon 25: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Mon 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 7:00pm.

Tue 26: Paul Skerritt @ The Rabbit Hole, Hallgarth St., Durham DH1 3AT. 7:00pm. Paul Skerritt's (solo) weekly residency.

Wed 27: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 27: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 27: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Tuesday, July 18, 2017

CD Review: Katie Thiroux – Off Beat.

Katie Thiroux (double bass/ vocals); Ken Peplowski (clarinet/tenor); Roger Neumann (tenor/ soprano); Justin Kauflin (piano); Matt Witek (drums.)
(Review by Dave Brownlow)
Katie Thiroux, a young bassist/vocalist already has an impressive musical background. On her CV is a degree from Berklee College of Music and a master's from California State University. Since then, she has worked with such fine musicians as Billy Taylor, Branford Marsalis, Bill Cunliffe, Geri Allen, Charles McPherson, Ken Peplowski, Mundell Lowe, Teri Lynne Carrington, Lewis Nash, Jeff Hamilton and many others. This is a follow-up album to her debut CD (Introducing Katie Thiroux 2015) and is thoroughly enjoyable, entertaining, swinging, uncomplicated yet sophisticated, full of variety and the essence of jazz “the sound of surprise.”
The programme Katie has chosen utilises the talents of her four musicians to the full with clever choices of accompaniment for each track. How refreshing it is to hear Peplowski’s clarinet featured on three pieces – it reminds me of Art Pepper’s occasional clarinet forays.
Off Beat uses Neumann’s quirky arrangement for an unusual front-line of clarinet and soprano sax. The song, made famous by June Christy, is a lively opener, swingingly anchored by Katie’s propulsive bass. Benny Carter’s smooth, mid-tempo When Lights Are Low has the piano-led trio as backing with a pleasant keyboard solo from Kauflin. The vocal is suitably sultry……..
Thiroux lays down her bass for a beautiful Why Did I Choose You with only piano support for this emotional ballad. Slow Dance With Me - a Thiroux original – is a bluesy instrumental which grooves along and includes a bass solo from the leader. She gets a round, warm tone from the bass and has ‘spot-on’ intonation coupled with a good ear for note choice throughout.
Master Bassist Ray Brown’s influence shows on the next three tracks. A ‘gospel style’ Brotherhood Of Man rides along cheerfully and includes another nimble solo from the bass. Ray’s Idea, from the early days of bebop and Dizzy’s Big Band, showcases a ‘scat’ vocal, a few bright choruses from the clarinet and ‘fours’ with drummer Witek.
A ‘sultry’ Some Cats Know has Peplowski on tenor and a sexy “knowing” vocal from Katie…..The rarely heard When The Wind Was Green (a Sinatra track from ’65) has the vocal supported by only clarinet and bass. A fine obbligato from Ken provides one of the high spots of the album. Ellington’s Happy Reunion is a showpiece for the two tenors and is a warm tribute to Duke. Finally, Willow Weep For Me is just Katie – vocal and bass – on a technical tour-de-force which she carries off with great aplomb showing off her talents as a more-than-competent bassist and a maturing vocalist. One detects subtle influences from Blossom Dearie, Norma Winstone and Claire Martin – but it’s chiefly herself!
With swinging basslines, clear vocals and inspired arrangements, Katie combines contemporary flair to mainstream stylings as a rising star in today’s scene.
Off Beat is to be released on August 18, 2017, on Capri Records 74146-2
 Also available on www.katiethiroux.com/
Dave Brownlow.

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