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Bebop Spoken There

Spasmo Brown: “Jazz is an ice cream sandwich! It's the Fourth of July! It's a girl with a waterbed!”. (Syncopated Times, July, 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

17346 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 630 of them this year alone and, so far, 35 this month (Sept. 11).

From This Moment On ...

September

Tue 17: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Victoria & Albert Inn, Seaton Delaval. 12:30pm. £13.00. Tel: 0191 237 3697. ‘Indian Summer Afternoon Tea’.
Tue 17: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:00-5:00pm. Free.
Tue 17: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels (guitar); Paul Grainger (double bass); Abbie Finn (drums).

Wed 18: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 18: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 18: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 18: Hot Club of Heaton @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘third Wednesday in the month’ session.

Thu 19: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 19: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Ragtime piano. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 19: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesborough. 8:30pm. Free. THC with guests Kevin Eland, Dan Johnson, Jeremy McMurray, Ron Smith.

Fri 20: Lindsay Hannon’s Tom Waits for No Man @ Gala Theatre, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 20: Rob Hall & Chick Lyall @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free (donations). SOLD OUT!
Fri 20: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 20: Leeway @ 1719, Hendon, Sunderland. 7:30pm. The Old Black Cat Jazz Club. CANCELLED!
Fri 20: Gaz Hughes Trio @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.

Sat 21: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 1:00-2:45pm. Free.
Sat 21: Baghdaddies @ Two by Two, Albion Row, Byker, Newcastle NE6 1RQ. 6:00pm.
Sat 21: Jude Murphy & Alan Law @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 22: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 2:30-4:30pm. Free.
Sun 22: Dulcie May Moreno Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 22: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: Richard Herdman @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 22: Remy CB Band @ Blues Underground, Nelson St., Newcastle. 8:30pm. Free. Remi, 2024 Newcastle Uni graduate, superb soul/blues voice!

Mon 23: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 23: Paul Booth with the Paul Edis Trio @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00. A Blaydon Jazz Club 40th anniversary concert! SOLD OUT!

Sunday, August 06, 2017

CD Review: John Vanore and his All-Star Large Ensemble - Stolen Moments, Celebrating Oliver Nelson

(Review by David Brownlow)
A fine CD by John Vanore leading a 15 piece jazz orchestra honouring the works of his former tutor - composer/arranger, Oliver Nelson who sadly passed away in 1975. Nine pieces originally composed or arranged by Nelson which Vanore has reimagined, rearranged, played trumpet on or conducted this strong material. The line-up is unusual in that there are two French horns, two trombones, four/five trumpets, two saxes who double, and five in the rhythm dept. The arrangements are freshly crafted in the ‘contemporary’ big band/orchestra style and the results are dynamic and full of surprises - well worth hearing.
The opener, Self Help Is Needed, from 1969, is a swinger with richly harmonised, brassy ensembles and a “fruity” solo from Steve Wilson on alto. A “springy” A Taste Of Honey in jazz-waltz time features Bob Malach on tenor; Vanore gets some new life from the well-known pop song with a refreshing re-harmonisation. 
Stolen Moments, Oliver Nelson’s best-known composition, has a brass-led chorale-style opening of this haunting song followed by bass and piano solos. The leader then ‘joins the fray’ with his only playing contribution – a deeply felt tribute to his mentor. 
The twelve-minute long El Gato, originally written in homage to Argentinian saxist Gato Barbieri, features extended work-outs from Malach, Wilson and guitarist Kettinger. The arranger cleverly builds up then releases the tension with backgrounds driving each solo above a churning rhythm section. 
Finally, there is a fiery two-way ‘conversation’ between alto and tenor leading to an exultant climax. A slow St Louis Blues has a poignant theme statement from solo trumpet over rich “Gil Evans” style chords leading to a wonderfully fluent and moving feature for Dave Ballou. Evocative also because Oliver Nelson was a native of St Louis……..The famous Blues And The Abstract Truth taken at a fast tempo sounds as fresh and inventive as any contemporary piece. Again featuring Ballou on trumpet, it’s a tour-de-force for him as ideas tumble forth exuberantly – what a player!
A lively Greensleeves is arranged for ‘massed brass’ and a trombone solo from Keberle. New harmonies catch your attention from the start and because it’s a short track, (2 min 59 sec) it leaves the listener wanting more…I Hope In Time A Change Will Come again from 1969 has Steve Wilson on soprano this time supported by warm background figures from the band. A strong ‘blues’feel to this piece adds strength to Nelson’s title and his hopes for the future…
Finally, Reuben’s Rondo is the cleverly-written chart which first inspired Vanore years ago. Given a “fresh lick of paint” this track charges briskly along swinging with Wilson on alto well to the fore.

A recommended CD with a nod to the past and a look to the future, this is one of my albums of the year available on August 18, from acoustical concepts AC-53 @ www.johnvanore.net
Dave Brownlow.
John Vanore (Composer/arranger/trumpet); Tony Kadlek, Augie Haas, Jon Owens, Dave Ballou (tpt); Ryan Keberle, Dave Taylor (tmb); Adam Unsworth, George Barnett (Fr.horn); Steve Wilson, Bob Malach (reeds); Jim Ridl (pno); Mike Richmond (bass); Danny Gottlieb (dms); Greg Kettinger (gtr); Beth Gottlieb (perc on 1 track).

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