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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.

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

The Jazz Café All Stars - September 19

(Review/photos by Russell)
An acquaintance suggested it would be difficult, if not impossible, to convey just how good this one was. Newcastle’s Jazz Café has long since established itself as host to the premier jam session on Tyneside. A good session is all but guaranteed, attracting some of the finest musicians on the local scene and from further afield. The place was busy well before the eight o’clock start with more than a few big hitters among the early arrivals – this one had all the makings of a particularly good night.
Paul Edis led the session working with Paul Grainger and Russ Morgan. My Romance opened the set, followed by Michel Legrand’s Watch What Happens. What happened next prompted your front row reviewer to scribble GO HOME!!! Nothing could follow Edis’ show-stopping version of  Bye Bye Blackbird featuring blinding piano playing with bassist Grainger and drummer Morgan right up there in the stratosphere. It was early, the place was full, the cheering had to be heard to be believed.
The sitters-in were many. In approximate order of appearance (all of them rose to the occasion, not a duff note all night), the two Matthews did just grand – drummer Matthew Fairhurst doesn’t say too much, in fact, he doesn’t say anything, letting his musicianship do the talking and Matthew Downey has really found his feet at the Jazz Café’s jam sessions. On this session guitarist Downey opened up, encouraged by Edis to extend his solo contribution on Tenor Madness. It’s a safe bet that at the next jam session (Tuesday 3 October) ‘Early Bird’ Downey will produce yet more good stuff.    

Graham Hardy was in the house – oh, yes! Hardy got happy on Get Happy. He didn’t hang around, business elsewhere, apparently, so, after a couple of numbers he was gone. Through the revolving door went Hardy in came Giles Strong to play Beautiful Love and There Will Never Be Another You and just like trumpet ace Hardy, guitar maestro Strong didn’t hang around. Jam session? You’d be happy to pay good money to hear this calibre of musician!

Sage Gateshead music students past and present joined the party with Jamie Mackay taking loan of Downey’s Gibson. John Garner, up from London, pricked ears on All Blues. Violinist Garner has an impressive pedigree; Royal College of Music graduate, protégé of David Oistrakh, performance credits include classical concert performances at prestigious venues across Europe, and jazz gigs with the likes of Chris Potter and Kate Williams. And here he was playing in the Jazz Café! Jimmy Jefford, studying at Newcastle University, made an impressive jam session debut on tenor.    

Graduate John Bradford took a spell behind the kit. Another find! Birthday girl Katy Trigger played a couple of numbers, giving Paul Grainger the chance to powder his nose, then there was John Pope for one, perhaps two, tunes. Two alto players stood either side of David Gray playing his usual all-action trombone. The altoists – Jordan Alfonso and Paul Gowland – traded heavyweight solos, first on On Green Dolphin Street then again on Stella by Starlight with Dr Edis knocking out yet another  stupendous solo with all sorts going on – contrapuntal Bach and other muso doings.    

Late on, having arrived from a private function gig, Strictly Smokin’ Michael Lamb had a blow, tenor man Jamie Toms likewise, and gone eleven James Harrison was just warming up with mates Anth Ord and Tom Chapman. They could have played all night but…’til the next time – October 3rd.                              
Russell             

Paul Edis (piano), Paul Grainger (double bass) & Russ Morgan (drums) + Graham Hardy (trumpet), Matthew Fairhurst (drums), Matthew Downey (guitar), Giles Strong (guitar), John Bradford (drums), Jamie Mackay (guitar), Jordan Alfonso (alto saxophone), David Gray (trombone), Paul Gowland (alto saxophone), John Garner (violin), Katy Trigger (double bass), Alan Law (piano), John Pope (double bass), James Harrison (piano), Anth Ord (double bass), Tom Chapman (drums), Michael Lamb (trumpet), Jamie Toms (tenor saxophone), Jimmy Jefford (tenor saxophone)

1 comment :

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

John played incredibly brilliant violin at Take it to the Bridge last night too. What a great surprise!

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