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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

17328 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 612 of them this year alone and, so far, 17 this month (Sept. 5).

From This Moment On ...

September

Mon 09: Mark Williams Trio @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00.
Mon 09: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 10: ???

Wed 11: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
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. A ‘second Wednesday in the month’ jam session.
Wed 11: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 12: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 12: Gateshead Jazz Appreciation Society @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:30pm. £4.00. ‘A Great Day in Harlem’.
Thu 12: The Cuban Heels @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Pete Tanton & co.
Thu 12: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesborough. 8:30pm. Free. THC with guests Donna Hewitt, Bill Watson, Dave Archbold, Adrian Beadnell, Mark Hawkins.

Fri 13: Jeff Barnhart & Neville Dickie @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Two pianos, two pianists! SOLD OUT!
Fri 13: Noel Dennis Quartet @ The Old Library, 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: Dilutey Juice @ Old Coal Yard, Byker, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £11.00. adv..
Fri 13: Ray Stubbs R & B All-stars @ The Forum, Darlington. 7:30pm. Classic blues.

Sat 14: Jeff Barnhart’s Silent Film Fest @ St Augustine's Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club.
Sat 14: Customs House Big Band w. Ruth Lambert @ St Paul’s Centre, St Paul’s Gardens, Spennymoor DL16 7LR. 7:00pm (6:45pm doors). Tickets £10.00. from the venue or tel: 01388 813404. A ‘BYOB’ event.
Sat 14: Emma Wilson @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm. £12.00. Acoustic blues.
Sat 14: Rat Pack - Swingin’ at the Sands @ Billingham Forum. 7:30pm.

Sun 15: Jude Murphy, Steve Chambers & Sid White @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 15: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Panharmonia @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Wednesday, October 04, 2017

Three by Three a Feast of Trios @ The Bridge Hotel October 1

(Review by Steve H/Photos courtesy of Ken Drew). 
The final concert of the inaugural Newcastle Festival of Jazz and Improvisation was yet another sell out and by that I mean the ‘house full’ signs could be put out rather than that the musical integrity of the festival had been compromised. What a great weekend it had been an A to Z (Archipelago – to Zoe Rahman) of artists be they local, national or international. Great credit must be given to all involved but an extra special tribute should be paid to programme director Wesley Stephenson who not only dreamt up the whole idea but was actually able to deliver the project with such unprecedented success.  
The three trios played, to a great or lesser extent, something I would call chamber jazz and reminded me at times of the wonderful Bartok String Quartets.
The first trio up Musson, Kjaer & Marshall played in a fairly minimalist style and improvised around one another seamlessly. The music demanded 100% attention and the packed audience remained respectfully silent throughout which, given its size, was most impressive. A great start to the evening
After a short break Jurd, Kjaer & ‘Leafcutter’ John took to the stage. The ‘Leafcutter’ performed on an instrument which looked like it belonged more on the bridge of the Starship Enterprise rather than on the upstairs floor of The Bridge Hotel Newcastle. To the naked eye it appeared that that in each hand a crystal orb was being held and by moving the two orbs towards and away from a computer of some sort a marvellous concoction of sounds was conjured up with the added bonus of an impromptu light show to boot. I guess you could call it an optical Theremin. Not to be technologically outdone, Jurd used various objects as mutes including a half pint beer glass and an empty crisp packet. Hopefully Kjaer wasn’t feeling too left out and at least she was able to alternate between alto and flute. A very entertaining set indeed.

To complete not only this event but also the entire festival, Barrel stepped up to the plate. My first thoughts were that they appeared to be a classical string quartet minus a violin. However, aside from this obvious difference, the improvisation and the abundant sense of humour the trio displayed emphasised why I find this kind of music so much more enjoyable than straight forward classical chamber music. Every so often Kallin would yelp or chat to his fellow band members in a most humorous fashion yet rather than undermine the performance it seemed to enhance the proceedings adding a light touch to what can be a very intense form of music. A cracking end to an amazing weekend I can’t wait till next year’s festival!
Musson, Kjaer & Marshall: Rachel Musson (tenor sax), Julie Kjaer (alto sax); Hannah Marshall (cello).

Jurd, Kjaer & ‘Leafcutter’ John: Laura Jurd (trumpet); Julie Kjaer (alto sax,flute); ‘Leafcutter’ John (electronics).

Barrel: Alison Blunt (violin); Ivor Kallin (viola); Hannah Marshall (cello).

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