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Bebop Spoken There

Branford Marsalis: "As ignorance often forces us to do, you make a generalisation about a musician based on one specific record or one moment in time." - (Jazzwise June 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

15491 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 512 of them this year alone and, so far, 133 this month (May 31).

From This Moment On ...

June

Sat 03: Newcastle Record Fair @ Northumbria University, Newcastle NE8 8SB. 10:00am-3:00pm. Admission: £2.00.
Sat 03: Pedigree Jazz Band @ St Augustine's Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm.
Sat 03: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. Tutor: Sue Ferris. £25.00. Enrol at: www.jazz.coop.
Sat 03: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 6:00pm. Free.
Sat 03: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 03: Papa G's Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.

Sun 04: Smokin' Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm.
Sun 04: Central Bar Quintet @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00-4:00pm. £5.00. The Central Bar Quintet plays Sonny Rollins' Saxophone Colossus. Featuring Lewis Watson.
Sun 04: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 3:00pm.
Sun 04: Struggle Buggy + Michael Littlefield @ Tyne Bar, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Acoustic blues.
Sun 04: Swinging at the Cotton Club: Harry Strutters' Hot Rhythm Orchestra @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.
Sun 04: Richard Jones Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 04: Jam No. 18 @ Fabio's Bar, Saddler Street, Durham. 8:00pm. Free. All welcome. A Durham University Jazz Society event.

Mon 05: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.

Tue 06: Paul Skerritt @ The Rabbit Hole, Hallgarth St., Durham DH1 3AT. 7:00pm. Paul Skerritt's (solo) weekly residency.
Tue 06: Jam session @ Black Swan, Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. House trio: Stu Collingwood (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Sid White (drums).

Wed 07: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 07: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 07: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:00pm.
Wed 07: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thu 08: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free. CANCELLED! BACK ON JUNE 15.
Thu 08: Easington Colliery Brass Band @ The Lubetkin Theatre, Peterlee. 7:00pm. £10.00.
Thu 08: Faye MacCalman + Blue Dust Archive @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Thu 08: Dilutey Juice + Ceramic @ The Ampitheatre, Sea Road, South Shields. 7:00pm. Free. A South Tyneside Festival event.
Thu 08: Lara Jones w. Vigilance State @ Lubber Fiend, Blandford Square, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Thu 08: Michael Littlefield @ the Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Country blues.
Thu 08: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Fri 09: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 09: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.
Fri 09: Castillo Nuevo @ Revolución de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30-8:30pm.
Fri 09: Emma Rawicz @ Sage Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

Preview: XPQ for Blaydon

(By Russell)
It’s early autumn, the nights are beginning to draw in, this means our annual tenor saxophone treat is almost upon us. Year in year out, mid-October, Darlington’s Opus 4 Jazz Club and Blaydon Jazz Club present two of the best jazz gigs anywhere in the country. A capacity audience is the norm, it pays to arrive early to secure a seat, then sit back and enjoy two sets of swinging, mainstream jazz the likes of which one can only dream about.


Yes, it’s the return of Vasilis Xenopoulos! Described by Blaydon Jazz Club’s promoter Roly Veitch as a ‘mercurial’ tenor player, Vasi X, as he is known in some quarters, is indeed a supremely gifted musician. The northeast connection comes about thanks to his longstanding friendship with pianist Paul Edis. They met in London, gigged, and have maintained an enduring musical partnership. The set list comprises the Great American Songbook sprinkled with one or two original compositions. A top class rhythm section makes all the difference on a gig like this and without question, these northeast dates are five-star affairs thanks to the calibre of musician available to Vasilis and Paul. Opus 4 Jazz Club at the Traveller’s Rest in Cockerton, Darlington, will feature Andy Champion and Russ Morgan. Andy is, for some, the finest bass player in the country, and drummer Russ is considered, rightly, as a ‘first call’ musician for prestigious gigs such as these. The Blaydon Jazz Club date will feature Bishop Auckland’s Mick Shoulder on bass working alongside Russ Morgan. Mick is one of the most accomplished musicians on the scene and Vasi has secured his services for this Blaydon gig and a second date north of the border in Eyemouth.

Of course, the piano player at Darlington and Blaydon will be Paul Edis. Based on Tyneside, Edis, if he so chose, could work in London or New York. When Vasi makes the trip ‘up north’ he must think Christmas has come early! You’re thinking: What’s the ‘XPQ’ all about. Well, not only will we get to hear Xenopoulos (Vasilis), but, believe it or not, Price (Nigel)! Guitarist Nigel Price is co-leader with Vasi of their quintet, hence XPQ. Nigel is an amazing guitarist. Gigging relentlessly, his recent tour of Britain comprised a mere fifty-six dates!!! Vasi and Nigel have worked together for ten years yet these October gigs will be the first time they have ventured north with their quintet. The saxophone-guitar format has an illustrious history in jazz and their concerts will look at some of the classic duo partnerships including Jim Hall-Sonny Rollins, Wes Montgomery-Johnny Griffin, Charlie Byrd-Stan Getz, and Kenny Burrell-Stanley Turrentine.

As an hors-d'oeuvre Xenopolous will play a duo gig with Paul Edis at the Lit and Phil Library at one o’clock on Friday 20 October. Pay on the door, £5.00 admission. It is advisable to arrive early as it will almost certainly be a sell-out. No advance sales, pay on the day, first come, first served. Then in the evening at the Traveller’s Rest it’s the quintet (XPQ). Doors at eight, first set at eight thirty, it too will be very busy. £10.00 on the door. The Blaydon Jazz Club date – Sunday 22 October – will similarly be busy. First set at 8:00pm, ten pounds on the door. Parking is available adjacent to the Black Bull on Bridge Street, and an excellent, reliable last bus departs Blaydon at 22:55, arriving at Clayton Street West, Newcastle at 23:08 leaving plenty of time to catch a Metro or last bus home.
Hopefully, XPQ will have their CD Sidekicks with them. Buy one, Christmas has come early.    

Russell

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