Bebop Spoken There

Emma Rawicz: "In a couple of years I've gone from being a normal university student to suddenly being on international stages." DownBeat January 2026.

The Things They Say!

This is a good opportunity to say thanks to BSH for their support of the jazz scene in the North East (and beyond) - it's no exaggeration to say that if it wasn't for them many, many fine musicians, bands and projects across a huge cross section of jazz wouldn't be getting reviewed at all, because we're in the "desolate"(!) North. (M & SSBB on F/book 23/12/24)

Postage

18246 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 100 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 31), 100

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Wed 04: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 04: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 04: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 05: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject:Times of the Day & Trios.
Thu 05: Jeremy McMurray’s Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Special guest Emma Wilson.
Thu 05: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 06: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 06: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 06: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 06: Durham Alumni Big Band & Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn Theatre. 7:30pm. £12.00. Two big bands on stage together!
Fri 06: Nauta + Littlewood Trio @ Little Buildings, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Double bill + jam session.
Fri 06: FILM: Made in America @ Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Ornette Coleman.
Fri 06: Deep Six Blues @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.

Sat 07: The Big Easy @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club.
Sat 07: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30-3:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 07: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. St Thomas & Bésame Mucho. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 07: Side Cafe Oᴙkestar @ Café Under the Spire, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Table reservations: 0191 477 3970.
Sat 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 08: Swing Tyne @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12 noon (doors). Donations. Swing dance taster class (12:30pm) + Hot Club de Heaton (live performance). Non dancers welcome.
Sun 08: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: Gerry Richardson’s Big Idea @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

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

Tue 10: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. 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

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

Three million and counting!











(Report by Russell/Cartoons by the late Bill Shaw.)
Bebop Spoken Here’s regular contributor Ken Drew (words and photography) has had his eye on the BSH hit counter. It has now clocked up a clicktastic (Ken’s term!) THREE MILLION hits!!! Ken suggested that this milestone should not go without comment. 
Lance Liddle, BSH Editor in Chief,  musician (retired) and lifelong jazz fan had the idea of putting a few thoughts online about the local (north east of England) jazz scene, perhaps wondering if anyone would read, let alone respond to, them.
That was back in 2008. Little did Lance know what he had started! In a 2011 interview with South Tyneside’s local newspaper the Shields Gazette, Lance revealed that his BSH blog had achieved no fewer than 200,000 hits. Musicians and promoters began contacting him to ask if he could give some publicity to forthcoming gigs. Gig reviews were written, and posted, overnight. Sometimes a review would be posted before midnight on the night of the gig! CD reviews increased the amount of work devoted to the project. Bebop Spoken Here had become a labour of love. Other jazz fans have since come on board to share the load writing reviews, reviewing albums – vinyl recordings have become increasingly frequent items arriving in the post at BSH Headquarters – and helping out in numerous other ways.

The three million has come and gone. Lance would surely appreciate offers to become involved in keeping the Bebop Spoken Here flame burning brightly. Onwards to four million hits, and, with your clicktastic support it will be achieved sooner rather than later. Oop Bop Sh’ Bam!   
Russell



8 comments :

Lance said...

Thank you Russell. I know modesty forbids you mentioning your own input to BSH - not just over the last few months when I've been semi-grounded but throughout. Your attention to detail puts national proofreaders to shame. Also Ken for photos and words; the two Steves for more words - sometimes a lot more words; Ann for her sometimes unique observations; Hugh, Debra, Dave Brownlow and a host more including Sebastian of LondonJazzNews; JNE, the Jazz Coop, The Jazz Café, Warren @ Hoochie Coochie, the cartoons of the late Bill Shaw (pictured above), my dear friend Liz in York, Roly in Blaydon and, it goes without saying the late Keith Crombie. Thank you all.

Hugh said...

Best wishes to all at BSH - hope you have a three million candlepower cake!

Roly said...

Congratulations Lance. Quite a success story. Hope you are out and about soon. Russell's done an amazing job getting to so many gigs. Best wishes. Roly

Anonymous said...

From Ann Alex, Yes, it's great to see yourself in black and white on the blog and to contribute in some way. And Lance even allows my references to Folk Music!

Patti said...

3 squillion, and counting - this is amazing! Plus, I don't know what all us jazz fans here would do without your blog!

David Brownlow (on F/b) said...

Ool - ya - koo!

Liz said...

Many congratulations Lance on this fine achievement, you're the tops!!

Anonymous said...

Well done, Lance. What a landmark!
As Ronnie Scott might have said "Three million readers can't be wrong!"
JC

Blog Archive