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Bebop Spoken There

Kurt Elling: ''There's something to learn from every musician you play with''. (DownBeat, December 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

17586 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 860 of them this year alone and, so far, 5 this month (Dec. 2).

From This Moment On ...

December

Wed 11: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Cath Stephens’ improvisation workshop @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 4:30-6:00pm. Collaborative group focusing on vocal improvisations.
Wed 11: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 11: The Tannery Jam Session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Second Wednesday in the month.
Wed 11: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 12: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Spanish City, Whitley Bay. 12 noon. £27.00. (inc. three -course meal).
Thu 12: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:00-6:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Thu 12: Stuart Turner @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 12: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesborough. 8:30pm. Free. Guests: Jeremy McMurray (keys); Mark Toomey (alto sax); Donna Hewitt (tenor sax); Kevin Eland (trumpet); Ron Smith (bass).

Fri 13: Dean Stockdale Trio @ Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 13: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Bellavana @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 3:00-5:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Joe Steels Trio @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Customs House Big Band @ Stocksfield Community Association. 7:00pm. Featuring Ruth Lambert.
Fri 13: Paul Edis & Friends: A Jazzy Xmas @ St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook. 7:30pm. £15.00.
Fri 13: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £19.00. + bf. First night of two.
Fri 13: Ransom Van @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 13: Boys of Brass @ Hoochie Coochie, Newcastle. 9:00pm. £10.00.

Sat 14: Jambone @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:15pm. Free but ticketed.
Sat 14: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm.
Sat 14: Red Kites Jazz @ Staiths Café, Autumn Dr., Gateshead. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 14 Lapwing Jazz Trio @ Three Sheets to the Wind, Alnwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 14: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £19.00. + bf. Second night of two.
Sat 14: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 15: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 12 noon. £8.50. Xmas party feat. Musicians Unlimited + Customs House Big Band. SOLD OUT!
Sun 15: Paul Edis & Friends: A Jazzy Xmas @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 2:00pm.
Sun 15: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Mitch Laddie Band @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Superb blues power trio.
Sun 15: Leeway @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 15: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Paul Edis & Friends: A Jazzy Xmas @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.
Sun 15: Alligator Gumbo @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 16: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 16: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Wheatsheaf, Benton Sq., Whitley Road, Palmersville NE12 9SU. Tel: 0191 266 8137. 12 noon. £9.95. ‘Festive Turkey Dinner’. Book now: 0191 266 8137.
Mon 16: Paul Edis & Friends: A Jazzy Xmas @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.

Tue 17: Paul Edis & Friends: A Jazzy Xmas @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.
Tue 17: BBC Big Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. ‘A Swinging Xmas’.
Tue 17: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.
Tue 17: Bellavana @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 7:45-9:35pm. Free.

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

Sunday, August 20, 2017

CD Review: Julian Costello Quartet - Transitions

Julian Costello (tenor/soprano); Maciek Pysz (guitars); Yuri Goloubev (bass); Adam Teixeira (drums).
(Review by Lance/Drawing by Alban Low).
Thoughtful and compelling, that was my first reaction upon hearing Waves, the opening track. Costello's long drawn out notes convey waves of sound - not to be confused with sheets of the same. His tone is well-rounded, the sound languorous, sonorous, punctuated by a couple of jaunty notes before returning to the serious business in hand. Globe favourite Pycz -  the quartet are there on October 7, put it in your diaries now! - adds his contribution and it's no mere '2 bits' worth. There's no break between Waves and Ducks and I thought the machine was playing tricks when track 2 flashed up.
No, Ducks it was and, although the same ponderous mood was retained, Costello became more expansive, flashing the notes around the way tenor players are expected to do.
Soprano unpacked for Corners - a short opus that revealed Costello's tone to be equally attractive on the higher pitched instrument. Again, no track break - this really is cutting corners.
Soprano remains loaded for A Manic Episode and Costello is off to the races at Formula 2 speed. Teixeira brings him back to allow Pysz a piece of the cake. On Spanish guitar for this one, he too hits the accelerator before fading into Track 5 - Tongue in Cheek. As the title implies a quirky theme with some strange moments and some equally beautiful soprano moments and guitar injections. Drums forever feeling the mood and double bass likewise.
Eureka! I've got it! The clue is in the title Transitions. That's why there are no breaks. You can't break with transition.
I'm happier now that that's sorted. Sorry folks, you've just got to have patience with me and, by coincidence, the next number is Patience. I don't know if this particular Patience is a lady, a state of tolerance or a card game for one. It could probably apply to all three. If it's a lady, she's very beautiful. If it's tolerance, it's worth waiting for and if it's a card game you've been dealt the perfect sequence. Whatever, I'm sure Julian will enlighten us at The Jazz Coop gig on October 7.
Earworm - I thought I was still listening to Patience - followed then we modulated into Buraki I Ziemmiak (don't ask me!) at 7.23 the longest track has more impressive tenor and some unison sax/guitar passages. Changing moods abound and Pysz demonstrates why he is revered so much by guitar buffs. As ever drums and bass provide the all-essential support.
Mirage is in two parts with the first being an extended intro featuring more Spanish sounds from Pysz. Poignant. Costello joins him on part two. Panettone brings Goloubev to the fore and he seizes the moment well before Costello adds some tenor lyricism.
Walking Through the Jungle - what can I say that I haven't already said? Pysz is in an out and out swing mood here setting the scene for more fine tenor.
The disc finishes off with a short reprise of Corners
It's an interesting and, at times, quite compelling album and whilst I (now) appreciate the seamless transition between tracks I'd still have preferred some time to assimilate what I'd just heard. However, that's just me and I'm sure I'll be in the minority.
Recommended!
Lance.
Transitions by the Julian Costello Quartet is (or soon will be) available on 33Jazz records number 268.
The band play at The Globe, Newcastle on October 7. £10 (£8 in advance).

1 comment :

Anonymous said...

Julian Costello and Maciek Pysz are leading the Play Jazz! workshop on that Saturday afternoon 2 til 6., venue Sage. See jazz.coop website, click learning, for full details and how to buy tickets. sheila.herrick@jazz.coop

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