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Bebop Spoken There

Ambrose Akinmusire: “ I am certainly always aware of what the masses are doing. And when I see too many people going one way, I'm going another way - even when I don't know what's over that way". DownBeat, March, 2024.

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...

Josh Weir: I love the writing on bebop spoken here... I think the work you are doing is amazing.

Postage

16287 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 169 of them this year alone and, so far, 41 this month (Mar 18).

From This Moment On ...

March

Tue 19: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Tim Johnston.

Wed 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 20: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 20: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 21: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 21: Castillo Neuvo Trio + Conor Emery & His ‘Bones Band @ The Grove, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £10.00. (£7.00. student).
Thu 21: Remi Banklyn + Chris Corcoran Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.50. Chicago blues. An International Guitar Foundation promotion.
Thu 21: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Ragtime piano.
Thu 21: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 22: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 22: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 22: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 22: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 22: Nauta + Remy CB + Last Orders @ Hoochie Coochie, Newcastle. 8:30pm (7:30pm doors). Free.
Fri 22: Vasilis Xenopoulos-Paul Edis Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £15.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 22: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 23: Jambone @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Free (ticketed). End of term performance in the Northern Rock Foundation Hall.
Sat 23: Milne-Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 23: Red Kites Jazz @ Rowlands Gill Community Centre NE39 1JB. 7:00pm. Tickets: £12.00. (gibsidecommunityfarm@gmail.com). A ‘Build a Barn’ fundraiser. BYOB, tea/coffee available.
Sat 23: New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00. + bf (book in person at venue - no booking fee!). Featuring pianist Martin Litton.
Sat 23: Pete Tanton’s Cuba Libre @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 24: Musicians Unlimited @ Park Inn, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 24: Luis Verde @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. Verde (alto sax); Joe Steels (guitar); John Pope (double bass); John Hirst (drums). Alto sax brilliance!
Sun 24: Elsie Franklin @ The Globe, Newcastle. 3:00pm. £10.00. Country blues. An International Guitar Foundation promotion.
Sun 24: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay Metro Station. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: Las Vegas Live with the Rat Pack @ The Forum, Billingham.
Sun 24: Ian Millar & Dominic Spencer @ Otterburn Memorial Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Sun 24: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Note start time - 7:00pm.
Sun 24: Bold Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 25: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Friday, July 14, 2017

Matthew MacKellar's Farewell Jazz Party @ the Jazz Café - July 13 (Downstairs)


Matthew MacKellar's farewell do was quite a lavish affair with crisps, sausage rolls and other party nibbles adorning the tables plus, naturally, plenty music to sooth the savaged breast.
Both floors of the popular Pink Lane bopperie were utilised as friends, family, and the various bands the young drummer has enhanced, wished him well on his voyage into the unknown or, to be more precise, Berklee College of Music.
As the happenings were on two levels it was decided that I should cover the lower deck and my worthy constituent Russell the flight deck.


Ben Lawrence Trio: Ben Lawrence (piano); Alex Shipsey (bass guitar); Dylan Thompson (drums).

A short opener by a trio that, although barely past puberty, played with a maturity that belied their years. Pianist Lawrence opened up with a Bill Evans inspired version of Someday my Prince Will Come followed by Sam Rivers' Beatrice and an original of his own that had Pizza in the title. Three young men to watch out for.
We ran upstairs for the Early Bird Band  which the trio are also involved with then back down again for...

John Wilson Trio: John Wilson (guitar); Deon Krishnan  (bass guitar); Matt MacKellar (drums/guitar) + Dave Lourie (drums).

The first appearance (downstairs) by the evening's central figure. Matt, alongside two of the scene's 'heavies' - John Wilson and Deon Krishnan -  left no doubt as to our young drummer's credentials. I don't think there will be any "Not quite my tempo" crits when he crosses the pond.

Deon is well known on the scene, Wilson more well-known behind the scene as teacher and session man in other genres. St. Thomas rubber stamped his jazz credentials as did the blues-rock number that followed which had a fiery solo from Matt.

There was more to come. Drum educator Dave Lourie replaced Matt behind the kit and Matt picked up a guitar and treated us to a well-played version of Watch What Happens. We did watch and what happened was impressive!
The final Scrapple From the Apple had Matt back on drums. Super set.
Back upstairs for the Francis Tulip Quartet, a bottle of Grainger Ale. a sausage roll then back down for...
Paul Edis Trio: Paul Edis (piano); Paul Grainger (bass); Russ Morgan (drums).

Edis is a main player in the area's jazz education program and it's fair to say that few of the younger performers would have reached their present standard without his expert guidance. Thus 'twas right and proper that he should have his own slot in the show.

Days of Wine and Roses, Stomping at the Savoy (as a samba!), Falling in Love With Love and a mega fast Anthropology paved the way for the raffle.
Lots of prizes - some folk won and some folk didn't. I fell into the latter category, Russell, the former.
Upstairs for the Dave Weisser Combo then back down for the Jam Session,
Unfortunately, we were behind schedule - unlike the 27 bus - so I had to miss the grand finale but, it had been a great night and a worthy bon voyage for a talented young man.
All proceeds from the evening were donated to the Early Bird Youth Jazz Development Project at Newcastle's Lit & Phil Society. At the last count £374 had been raised.
The event was expertly compered by Matt's father George MacKellar
Lance.

3 comments :

Jude Murphy (on F/b) said...

What a great night. Good luck Matthew, you'll be amazing

John Wilson said...

Good luck from me too Matthew, it's been a privilege to have been your guitar teacher.

Unknown said...

George was amazing and I told him so. What an awesome dad!

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