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Bebop Spoken There

Billy Boy Arnold: “As long as you don't think old you're good.” - DownBeat, December, 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!"

Simon Spillett: A lovely review from the dean of jazz bloggers, Lance Liddle...

Postage

16051 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 1058 of them this year alone and, so far, 12 this month (Dec. 6).

From This Moment On ...

December

Mon 11: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 11: Interim Final Recitals @ Newcastle University. Details TBC.

Tue 12: Stu Collingwood Organ Trio @ Forum Music Centre, Darlington. 7:00pm. £10.00.

Wed 13: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 13: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 13: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 13: Bold Big Band @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm.
Wed 13: Giles Strong Quartet @ Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thu 14: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 14: Hot Fingers @ The Lubetkin Theatre, Peterlee. 7:00pm. £10.00.
Thu 14: After Hours Student Jazz Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 14: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. . Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 14: Niffi Osiyemi Trio @ Harbour View, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 14: Mo Scott ‘Little Mo’s Festive Appearance’ @ The Schooner, Gateshead. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 14: Tees Hot Club w. Kevin Eland, Josh Bentham, Garry Hadfield, Adrian Beadnell @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Fri 15: Paul Edis @ Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 15: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 15: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 15: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 15: Paul Skerritt @ Black Horse Inn, Crook. From 7:00pm.
Fri 15: Paul Edis: A Jazzy Christmas @ St Cuhtbert's Centre, Crook. 7:30pm. £15.00. SOLD OUT! Waiting list open.
Fri 15: Zoë Gilby Trio @ Seventeen Nineteen, Hendon, Sunderland. 7:30pm. £12.00. POSTPONED!
Fri 15: Strictly Smokin' Big Band @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 8:00pm. First night of two. SOLD OUT!
Fri 15: Darlington Big Band @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £10.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 15: Baghdaddies @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00.; £10.00.

Sat 16: Paul Edis: A Jazzy Christmas @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 2:00pm. A Jazzy Christmas + Jambone.
Sat 16: Porritt & Barrett & Friends Xmas Special @ Cullercoats Watch House. 7:00pm. £4.00.
Sat 16: Milne-Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 16: Red Kites Jazz Band @ The Staithes Café, Gateshead. 7:00pm--9:00pm.
Sat 16: Hayley's Little Big Band @ Ellingham Village Hall, Chathill. 7:30pm. £12.00., £8.00.
Sat 16: Paul Edis: A Jazzy Christmas @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.
Sat 16: Strictly Smokin' Big Band @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Second night of two.

Sun 17: Red Kites Jazz Band @ Gibside Chapel, nr. Rowlands Gill. 1:00-2:30pm.
Sun 17: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm.
Sun 17: Revolutionaires @ Tyne Bar, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Rock ‘n’ roll excellence!
Sun 17: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Alehouse, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 17: The Globe Xmas Party @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Multi-bill inc. David Gray’s Flextet + jam session.
Sun 17: Paul Edis: A Jazzy Christmas @ Queen's Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm. £17.00., £15.00.
Sun 17: Hayley's Little Big Band @ Amble Parish Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00., £6.00.
Sun 17: Snake Davis Trio @ St John’s Hall, Snods Edge, Shotley Bridge DH8 9TJ. 7:30pm. £15.00. from 07766 037893.

Saturday, December 02, 2017

Leo Richardson Quartet @ Opus 4 Jazz Club, Darlington - December 1

Leo Richardson (tenor saxophone), Rick Simpson (keyboards), Tim Thornton (double bass) & Ed Richardson (drums)
(Review by Russell)
Tenor saxophonist Leo Richardson has received rave reviews in the jazz media with his debut CD The Chase garnering 5-star awards. In demand on the London scene, sharp-suited Richardson is on the road with his quartet and he stopped off at Opus 4 Jazz Club. Darlington Jazz Festival has been ahead of the curve having already been treated to Richardson’s hard bop style in trumpeter Matt Roberts’ all-star band in 2016 and again this year. Would Richardson attract a crowd?


On the night other attractions in the region – Saltburn to the south and Ushaw to the north – made for a difficult choice…or, perhaps, not so difficult. Bebop Spoken Here was only going to be in one place and that was right here at the Traveller’s Rest. Portraits of legendary jazz figures hang from the walls in the upstairs room of the West Auckland Road hostelry and looking on with a particular interest this evening as Richardson took to the stage was the great Tubby Hayes. The Curve from The Chase opened the set followed by another cut from the album, Blues for Joe (Joe Henderson). Wow! Absolutely stunning hard bop! What a band! Ah, the band…Richardson introduced the man who needed no introduction whatsoever, Rick Simpson. A local lad, living and working in London, Leo playfully referred to Rick as the ‘Prodigal Son’. Bassist Tim Thornton, a man in possession of imperious technique, and the no-relation, stupendous young drummer Ed Richardson are as good as it gets.

Effing and Jeffing isn’t on the album but it could be on the next one. Richardson took it down just a touch, for a few bars only, then ‘bang!’ more killing bop. Demon E was inspired by Richardson’s wife. Bluesy, languid tenor playing, Mrs R must be some woman! Forty minutes in, forty glorious minutes of hard bop, it was time for a ballad. Elisha’s Song, named after Leo Richardson’s niece, featured the Prodigal Son. A new tune, The Demise, served as a commentary on the state of the world today, or rather, the state of so-called world leaders with Simpson yet again dazzling the on-side full house.  

Another new tune – Shake – suggests Richardson is writing material on a regular basis. Good, the second and third albums must be taking shape! The second set opener featured Leo’s namesake,  drummer Ed Richardson in a sharp exchange of fours. Richardson E was nothing short of amazing all night. Ed must surely be in the ‘first call’ category of drummers in the capital city. Martini Shuffle recalled Art Blakey’s insistent drive, with Tim Thornton’s bass solo as good as any heard by your correspondent – that’s anytime, anywhere, ever. Silver Lining, another of Leo’s compositions, the man Horace Silver the inspiration, produced one of those ‘how did they do that’ scenarios. Exactly Like You quoted fleetingly at breakneck tempo by Leo, the quote developed by Rick, amazing, just amazing, and the other Richardson Ed, was all over it. Live jazz, there’s nothing like it!

Mambo (it’s on the CD, buy it, just buy it!) featured more superlative bass playing from TT, with first Leo, then Rick referencing Footprints. Another original titled Peace (are you listening, yes, you, you ‘world leader’. Bah! Probably not), then the one tune they were yet to play…The Chase. Absolutely brilliant playing all round, including a blistering ‘just my tempo’ drum solo. Leo Richardson couldn’t have made a bigger impression. He’ll make a return visit, that’s for sure, and when he does, please be there! Gig of the Year? Yep.

Russell                                                

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