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Bebop Spoken There

Art Blakey: "You [Bobby Watson] don't want to play too long, because you don't know they're clapping because they're glad you finished!" - (JazzTimes, Nov. 2019)..

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

15848 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 855 of them this year alone and, so far, 53 this month (Sept. 18).

From This Moment On ...

September

Thu 21: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 21: La Malbec Orchestra @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Thu 21: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Ragtime piano. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.
Thu 21: Linsday Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Harbour View, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 21: Ray Stubbs R & B All Stars @ The Schooner, Gateshead. 8:30pm. Free.
Thu 21: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Fri 22: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 22: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 22: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.
Fri 22: Brief Encounter @ Bardon Mill Village Hall, Northumberland. 7:00pm. Tickets: £10.00. adv from 07885 303166; £12.00. on the door. Chris & Veronica Perrin improvising to a screening of the 1929 'Jazz Age' silent film Piccadilly (Dir. Ewald André Dupont).
Fri 22: Paul Edis & Graeme Wilson + Three Tsuru Origami @ Jesmond United Reformed Church, Newcastle. 7:30pm. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Fri 22: Crooners @ Tyne Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm.
Fri 22: Abbie Finn's Finntet @ Traveller's Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.

Sat 23: Tyne Valley Big Band @ Tanfield Railway, Gateshead. 2:00-4:00pm. Free. A '1940s Weekend' event.
Sat 23: Jason Isaacs @ Stack, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free.
Sat 23: Andrew Porritt & Keith Barrett @ Cullercoats Watch House, Front St., Cullercoats NE30 4QB. 7:00pm.
Sat 23: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig. Country blues.

Sun 24: Musicians Unlimited @ Park Inn, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.

Mon 25: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Mon 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 7:00pm.

Tue 26: Paul Skerritt @ The Rabbit Hole, Hallgarth St., Durham DH1 3AT. 7:00pm. Paul Skerritt's (solo) weekly residency.

Wed 27: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 27: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 27: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thursday, December 14, 2017

Chris Biscoe; Roger Turner ; John Pope. A Jazz North East 'On the Outside' performance @ The Bridge Hotel, Newcastle - December 3

Chris Biscoe - tenor and alto sax, alto clarinet; Roger Turner - drums; John Pope – bass.  
(Review/photo courtesy of Ken Drew.)
Chris Biscoe & Roger Turner played their first duo gig in 1967 and this tour of five cities around the UK sees them working with local musicians, making each performance a unique event due to the differing range of instruments.  Biscoe and Turner, "The Collaborators" were joined tonight by John Pope with the aim of having open minds in the spirit of pure improvisation. This tremendous improvising threesome first came together four years ago after internationally acclaimed percussionist Roger Turner heard Newcastle bassist John Pope as part of a band, and was so impressed he suggested that they should play together. The brilliant reeds player Chris Biscoe was recruited to form a trio which made its debut at Sage Gateshead as part of a double bill with the Anglo-French quartet Sonsale.   And now, four years later, they share the stage again.
 Set 1 -  A blistering start from the off, quite high energy from the trio for a long while, until the pace slowed, with a bass solo from Pope followed by Turner reinforcing his presence. Then, with Biscoe included, all three once more turned up the heat. A longer, slow, meditative section ensued, Pope taking to the bow on occasion. Biscoe and Pope then quietly held back to let Turner take the focus with a short solo, but as the pace quickens, Pope reaches for a drum mallet (yes, he's still on bass!) and, along with Biscoe, joins in a lengthy rapid-fire section.  The energy of the trio was blistering.  Biscoe signalled a slowing down giving Turner the opportunity to take the lead in a very exploratory section, using 'other' devices to good percussive effect.  After some time, Biscoe breaks free, sax screaming, with Pope not far behind. Soon, the trio's frenzy returns, and in time it dissipates into a slowly fading end signalled by Biscoe and forcibly stopped by Turner with a final 'thump' on the drums. What an energetic first piece. Actually, it was the whole of the first set !! 

Set 2 began with a lively start from Biscoe on alto clarinet. Quickly the pace builds, Biscoe having swapped screaming sax for the strong overtones on the alto clarinet. After some time, the clarinet is swapped for a soprano sax bringing a different mood to the piece. By the next bass solo, Pope was pouring his energy into double bass, leading this section but not overly dominating it, Biscoe having swapped again back to bass clarinet to take off some of the heat from Pope.  Another fine extended piece of pure improvisation.

I presume it was quite a privilege for John Pope to be playing as part of this trio - he certainly stepped up to the plate and looked to be enjoying it. Notably, each member of the group played in equal measure - none were 'out in front'. Indeed, there was no significant leader, the group operating as a performer's co-operative, and worked very well on that basis.  Overall, Biscoe introduced many new ideas as the pieces progressed and developed, always making good use of his formidable technique and demonstrating his thoughtful approach, angular yet melodic, and unfailingly accessible.  Yet Biscoe never overpowered or stole the limelight, always leaving ample space for Pope and Turner to contribute, and for each to take the lead when the piece moved in their direction. Turner's dynamic contribution was everpresent, showing immense subtlety, and Pope gave his all with superbly inventive and energetic solo sections.  Not surprisingly, the audience's expectation was met - they had formed a cohesive, highly energised unit, but allowed themselves ample freedom to explore the material as it unfolded.  The visiting band members really enjoyed this venue and the performance. The decent sized audience were very appreciative too, snapping up CDs as they left.
Ken.

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