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Bebop Spoken There

Ambrose Akinmusire: “ I am certainly always aware of what the masses are doing. And when I see too many people going one way, I'm going another way - even when I don't know what's over that way". DownBeat, March, 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

Tue 19: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Tim Johnston.

Wed 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 20: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 20: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 21: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 21: Castillo Neuvo Trio + Conor Emery & His ‘Bones Band @ The Grove, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £10.00. (£7.00. student).
Thu 21: Remi Banklyn + Chris Corcoran Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.50. Chicago blues. An International Guitar Foundation promotion.
Thu 21: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Ragtime piano.
Thu 21: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 22: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 22: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 22: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 22: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 22: Nauta + Remy CB + Last Orders @ Hoochie Coochie, Newcastle. 8:30pm (7:30pm doors). Free.
Fri 22: Vasilis Xenopoulos-Paul Edis Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £15.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 22: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 23: Jambone @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Free (ticketed). End of term performance in the Northern Rock Foundation Hall.
Sat 23: Milne-Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 23: Red Kites Jazz @ Rowlands Gill Community Centre NE39 1JB. 7:00pm. Tickets: £12.00. (gibsidecommunityfarm@gmail.com). A ‘Build a Barn’ fundraiser. BYOB, tea/coffee available.
Sat 23: New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00. + bf (book in person at venue - no booking fee!). Featuring pianist Martin Litton.
Sat 23: Pete Tanton’s Cuba Libre @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 24: Musicians Unlimited @ Park Inn, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 24: Luis Verde @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. Verde (alto sax); Joe Steels (guitar); John Pope (double bass); John Hirst (drums). Alto sax brilliance!
Sun 24: Elsie Franklin @ The Globe, Newcastle. 3:00pm. £10.00. Country blues. An International Guitar Foundation promotion.
Sun 24: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay Metro Station. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: Las Vegas Live with the Rat Pack @ The Forum, Billingham.
Sun 24: Ian Millar & Dominic Spencer @ Otterburn Memorial Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Sun 24: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Note start time - 7:00pm.
Sun 24: Bold Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 25: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Sunday, January 14, 2018

A bit on the Side

As Bebop Spoken Here's 10th birthday approaches and, with a significant birthday of my own in the offing, I'd like to reflect upon some of those gigs that were inspirational towards the creation of this labour of love. One venue, in particular, stands out.
Although I'd loved jazz for most of my life, and played in a few bands along the way, it was stumbling upon The Side Café on Newcastle's Quayside that resuscitated my enthusiasm. This was in 2008. So many of my contemporaries had passed on - Charlie Carmichael, Nigel Stanger, Trevor Johnson, Bobby Carr, Teddy Langston, Alf Parker, Ronnie McLean, Hughie Aitchison and many more that I'd begun to think the future for the music looked bleak.
However, I soon discovered the future was far from bleak. A young singer was singing songs from her mother's era and singing them good. No surprise when I discovered that this was Zöe Gilby, daughter of Mike Gilby whom I'd played alongside in the Newcastle Big Band.
From then on, the Side Café became my Monday date and, each week I was gobsmacked to discover how much young talent there was on the jazz scene. This was ten years ago and, today, the talent is getting even younger!
This was and is, mainly due to the work put in by Paul Edis who kicked off these sessions as part of the NEJC (North East Jazz Collective).
There really were some amazing sessions. May 5 I first heard the brilliant Vasilis Xenopoulos. I think my headline was 'Be Aware of Greeks Blowing Riffs'. Hopefully, my journalistic skills have improved since then!
Each week was an absolute delight. The vocal torch was carried by Ruth Lambert and Lindsay Hannon. Guitarists Mark Williams, Nick Pride, Tom Dibb, Edd Carr and Roly Veitch impressed. Graeme Wilson, Graham Hardy, Noel Dennis, David Carnegie, Adrian Tilbrook, Mick Shoulder and Andy Champion also caught my eye as they have done ever since. There were so many that I  apologise to those that I've missed out.
Bands like Extreme Measures took the place by storm as did the Paul Edis Sextet.
Strangely, not every gig was a sellout and the one which should have paid the bills from here to breakfast time - ace trumpet man, Steve Waterman, - didn't pull. One which did was the guitar duo of Deidre Cartwright and Kathy Dyson paying tribute to the late Emily Remler.
It was a wonderful couple of years in which we heard some fantastic music, gave a kickstart to this blog and helped Paul Edis towards the high esteem he is held in today.
Lance


6 comments :

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed those sessions very much Lance. That small, intimate room upstairs was ideal and you were close to the musicians in a way that meant you shared in the performance in a very nice way. I remember well the time I climbed the stairs hearing the music wafting down the stairs and thinking 'who is that great saxophonist' - it was Vas. The whole endeavour had a nice feel about it and the North East Jazz Collective concept was a really good idea.
Roly

cptfinch said...

Hear hear Lance. I was at that Steve Waterman gig. Blown away by the chops.
And it was around that time I found your blog and got back in to jazz

Paul Edis (on F/b). said...

Thanks for this Lance. Many happy memories reading this and looking through the photos...

Adam Sinclair (on F/b) said...

This seems like a lifetime ago! As the photographic evidence shows I was there.

Jamie McCredie (on F/b) said...

These are gorgeous Lance. Thanks for all you’ve done & continue to do. What a precious contribution and documentation of the scene in the North. Raising a glass to you from London x

Ken Drew (on F/b) said...

That photo is a real gem !! Nice One Lance.

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