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Bebop Spoken There

Delfeayo Marsalis: "Slide Hampton once told me that it's not always the person that is playing the highest or playing the fastest that's making the greatest impact." - (DownBeat March 2023).

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

15229 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 248 of them this year alone and, so far, 61 this month (March 20).

From This Moment On ...

March

Tue 21: Paul Skerritt @ The Rabbit Hole, Hallgarth St., Durham DH1 3AT. 7:00pm. Paul Skerritt's (solo) weekly residency.
Tue 21: Jam session @ Black Swan, Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. House trio: Jacob Egglestone (guitar); Jamie Watkins (bass guitar); Bailey Rudd (drums).

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Traveller's Rest, Cockerton. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public). Note change of venue - this week only.
Wed 22: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:00pm.
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thu 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 4:00-6:00pm. Free.
Thu 23: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Bar Loco, Newcasatle. From 6:30pm 'til late. Free. Newcastle University Jazz Orchestra jam session. All welcome (students & non-students).
Thu 23: Kerrin Tatman + John Garner & John Pope @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Thu 23: Sunna Gunnlaugs & Julia Hülsmann @ Sage Gateshead. 8:00pm. A two-piano gig. A Sage Gateshead-JNE promotion.
Thu 23: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Ragtime piano.
Thu 23: Sleep Suppressor @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £10.00., £8.00. adv. Upstairs.
Thu 23: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.
Fri 24: FILM: Mo' Better Blues @ Forum Cinema, Hexham. 7:00pm.
Fri 24: Ian Millar & Dominic Spencer @ Scarth Hall, Staindrop, Co. Durham. 8:00pm. £10.00.
Fri 24: Archipelago + Bulbils @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.

Sat 25: Vermont Big Band @ Walker Community Centre, Walker, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Fundraiser for Benfield Juniours Football Club. Hot food available, BYOB.
Sat 25: John Logan & Friends @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Rat Pack, Motown etc. 8:00pm. Free (donations).

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited @ Park Inn, Hartlepool. 1:00pm.
Sun 26: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 3:00pm.
Sun 26: Outlines @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. JNE promotion (upstairs).

Mon 27: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.

Thursday, October 26, 2017

CD Review: Courtney Pine - Black Notes From The Deep

Courtney Pine (tenor/bass flute/EWI); Omar (vocal); Robert Mitchell (piano ); Alec Dankworth (bass); Rod Youngs (drums) + Ed Bentley (organ - 1 tk); Chris Cobbson (guitar - 1 tk); Charleen Hamilton (backing vocals),
(Review by Lance).
Kill the fattened calf, the prodigal son has returned! Yes, after ten years in the wilderness squandering his talents on soprano saxophones and bass clarinets, Courtney has returned to his first love, the tenor saxophone. Let jazz fans rejoice and spread the word across the land - Courtney's back and blowing better than ever. Perhaps the bass clarinet years were a form of sabbatical where he sought to rediscover his inner soul before coming to the conclusion that it was time to not just get back into the race, but to win it.
Soulful tenor, tender at times, full of emotion but, when the going gets tough, he's as tough as any tenor ever. Tremendous playing - a bass clarinet just can't handle this much heat even though CP coped with it better than most. Bass flute is more to my ears and, On a Change is Sure to Come, it fits the mood to perfection.
You'll gather that I'm impressed! However, don't go away thinking this is all about the tenor saxophone. No sir! Four tracks feature vocals by Omar. At the recent Sage Gateshead concert Russell, like Stevie Wonder before him, was particularly impressed by the soul singer - You and Stevie Wonder, Russell - On the strength of this album, me too!
Robert Mitchell has never made a bad record in his life (if he has then I haven't heard it) and I doubt if Courtney could have found anyone more compatible. Dankworth and Youngs do what's asked as they always do. Special mention also for Cobbson's guitar solo on The Morning After the Night Before.
I initially viewed the album with some trepidation which, by this time, you'll have gathered turned out to be totally unfounded. So much so, I can't wait to play it again even though I've got a double CD by Cécile McLorin Salvant waiting in the wings!
Lance.

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