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Bebop Spoken There

Simon Spillett: “ Bebop and hard bop came naturally to him [Tubby Hayes]". Morning Star, March 28, 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

Fri 29: FILM: Soul @ The Forum Cinema, Hexham. 12:30pm. Jazz-themed film animation.
Fri 29: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 29: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 29: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 29: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 6:00pm. Free. POSTPONED!
Fri 29: Thundercat @ Newcastle City Hall.
Fri 29: John Logan @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 29: True Colours @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 9:00pm. Blues, jazz & swing.

Sat 30: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 30: Pete Tanton’s Cuba Libre @ Whitley Bay Library, York Road, Whitley Bay. 8:00pm.

Sun 31: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay Metro Station. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 31: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields NE30 1HJ. 3:00pm. Free. Lambert, Alan Law & Paul Grainger.
Sun 31: Sid Jacobs & Tom Remon @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. USA/London jazz guitar duo.
Sun 31: Bellavana @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

April
Mon 01: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 01: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 3:00pm. Free.

Tue 02: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Dean Stockdale, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 03: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 03: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 03: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 04: FILM: Soul @ Forum Cinema, Hexham. 2:00pm. Jazz-themed film animation.
Thu 04: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 04: Funky Drummer @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 04: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 04: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Wednesday, November 01, 2017

Lindsay Hannon Plus ‘Make Dark Heaven Light’ album launch @ The Lit &Phil October 28

Lindsay Hannon (vocals); Mark Williams (guitar); John Pope (bass); Russ Morgan (drums)
(Review by Steve H/Photos courtesy of Ken Drew) 
The Lit and Phil once again played host to a Lindsay Hannon Plus album launch. Personnel changes from the first album saw Russ Morgan on drums replace Tom Chapman whilst James Harrison was replaced by guitarist Mark Williams. The ever-present John Pope on double bass displayed his loyalty by sporting the same shade hair colour as the band leader.

A short set of old favourites: a couple of Joni Mitchell tunes (Hissing of Summer LawnsMain Street),  a Pat Metheny number and Monk’s In Walked Bud got the capacity audience nicely warmed up. The second set saw the unveiling of songs from the new album. Three moving, autobiographical, originals: Everyone, Maths & Morning Revisited (lyrics by Hannon, music by Williams) got things underway. The mood didn’t really get any lighter as versions of Miss Otis Regrets and Robert Wyatt’s Sea Song followed.
Back to back Romeo songs proved not to be the tragedy the Shakespeare might have intended as Mark Knoffler’s Romeo and Juliet was succeeded by Tom Wait’s Romeo Lies Bleeding with great aplomb. The setlist might give the impression that anyone not in tears by the end of the evening was a cruel and heartless misanthrope but nothing could be further from the truth since the quality of both material and performance couldn’t fail to entertain.
The band was remarkably slick almost too slick for my liking. Mark Williams is a great guitarist but I felt he was a little bit too confined in this format and therefore not really given the room to produce his customary explosive solos.  
I am not quite sure why the Lit and Phil was selected by JNE for this launch given that the grand piano lay untouched in a corner of the room. A more club-like venue with softer lighting would have been far better suited to the sultry soulful style that singer Hannon so brilliantly purveys.
The evening concluded with Carlos Jobim’s cheerful upbeat number No More Blues featuring some great work on drums from Russ Morgan. A fitting and joyful ending to a hugely successful evening but you don’t have to take my word for it buy the CD  and you too can experience ‘earth treading stars that make dark heaven light’.

Steve H

1 comment :

Dave Parker said...

All four of them were indeed 'earth treading stars' that night, and the emotional impact at the end of this superb gig was definitely 'such sweet sorrow'.

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