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Bebop Spoken There

Abbie Finn: "Even though there's a lot of great work being done to promote women in jazz, I still come up against some attitudes! I pulled up at a recording session with my drums in the car and the studio owner said, 'I'm sorry, this space is reserved for the drummer!'" - (Jazzwise April 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

15229 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 248 of them this year alone and, so far, 61 this month (March 20).

From This Moment On ...

March

Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.
Fri 24: FILM: Mo' Better Blues @ Forum Cinema, Hexham. 7:00pm.
Fri 24: Ian Millar & Dominic Spencer @ Scarth Hall, Staindrop, Co. Durham. 8:00pm. £10.00.
Fri 24: Archipelago + Bulbils @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.

Sat 25: Vermont Big Band @ Walker Community Centre, Walker, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Fundraiser for Benfield Juniours Football Club. Hot food available, BYOB.
Sat 25: John Logan & Friends @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Rat Pack, Motown etc. 8:00pm. Free (donations).

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited @ Park Inn, Hartlepool. 1:00pm.
Sun 26: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 3:00pm.
Sun 26: Outlines @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. JNE promotion (upstairs).

Mon 27: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.

Tue 28: Paul Skerritt @ The Rabbit Hole, Hallgarth St., Durham DH1 3AT. 7:00pm. Paul Skerritt's (solo) weekly residency.
Tue 28: Sanaz Lavasani Trio @ Black Swan, Newcastle Arts Centre. 8:00pm. £12.00 (£10.00. adv).

Wed 29: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 29: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 29: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:00pm.
Wed 29: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thu 30: Gateshead Jazz Appreciation Society @ Gateshead Central Library. 2:30-4:30pm. £2.00. All welcome.
Thu 30: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. Back to 1:00pm stomp off. Free.
Thu 30: '58 Jazz Collective @ Hops & Cheese, Hartlepool. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 30: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Harbour View, Sunderland. 8:00pm.
Thu 30: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Sunday, December 03, 2017

Jasper Høiby Masterclass @ The Music Department, Durham University - December 2

(Report by Russell)
Lunchtime, Saturday, Palace Green. The ‘Green’ was covered by the biggest marquee ever seen this side of a so-called ‘high society’ wedding ‘do’. A Christmas market, three quid admission and the place was buzzing. The adjacent Durham Cathedral was open for business, doing very nicely, as was Durham Castle on the other side of the temporarily covered ‘Green’, thank you very much.

Durham University Jazz Society invited Jasper Høiby to conduct a masterclass on Palace Green. The London-based Dane happened to be ‘up north’ in Wakefield on Friday evening with his band Fellow Creatures and an afternoon engagement in Durham the next day appeared to be an ideal arrangement for all concerned as Durham Cathedral’s bells rang out.
Bells pealed, and pealed, and pealed. Durham University’s ancient Music Department was hosting a symposium about something or other in a room to the left, and turning right through the door, the masterclass, soon to begin, would be conducted in peace once the bell ringing was done. DUJS’s Dan Garel and Tristan Bacon were making last minute preparations prior to bassist Høiby’s arrival,  and a student colleague was doing something important on a laptop. The Dane arrived and made for the first floor common room. Student musicians, the masterclass participants, started to arrive, student style, ie. in their own time. The stage set, Steinway grand at one side, Tristan’s drum kit at the other (in front of another, covered, Steinway).

Bells pealed, and pealed, and pealed. A relaxed Høiby strolled in, water, possibly coffee, in hand. Final year music student Dan Garel (seen and heard on killing alto at the Jazz Café’s jam session) introduced Mr Høiby to the still arriving students. Bells pealed, and pealed, and pealed. The Dane suggested that some of the participating students take to the stage to play a couple of numbers to enable him to gauge their abilities. Dan leapt into action…get the A-Team on stage! Dan, Tristan, bassist Dylan Purches (would Høiby be protective or hypercritical of a fellow member of the bass players’ union?) and pianist Sander Priston were among the first to give it their best shot.

Bells pealed, and pealed, and pealed. The Music Department is but a stone’s throw (oops!, sorry Bishop, we’ll phone for a glazier) from the pealing bells. A blues (Now’s the Time comes in useful on such occasions!), then Have You Met Miss Jones? Short solos all round. What would the Dane make of their efforts? Good! Fine! said Høiby. The bells pealed, and pealed, and pealed. Your BSH correspondent wondered if Quasimodo would put in an appearance.

Høiby thought it a good idea to take a look at one or two of his compositions. As dots were passed around, the Dane took centre stage behind the front line, calling out chord and key changes, giving encouragement where needed, stopping at times to expand upon his writing methods and thought processes. Høiby quipped: You said the bells would stop! Dan: They will! Bells pealed, and pealed, and pealed.

Two hours later, with a number of changes in the student line-up along the way including Zach Fox on alto saxophone, and Honor Hornsby, trumpet, it was time to go. An approachable Jasper Høiby had conducted an enjoyable, informative masterclass, and, with the bells pealing, it can be said the day was an unqualified success. Esmeralda, where are you?                        
Russell

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