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Bebop Spoken There

Branford Marsalis: "As ignorance often forces us to do, you make a generalisation about a musician based on one specific record or one moment in time." - (Jazzwise June 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

15478 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 499 of them this year alone and, so far, 120 this month (May 27).

From This Moment On ...

May 2023

Wed 31: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 31: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 31: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:00pm.
Wed 31: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

June
Thu 01: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 01: Thursday Night Prayer Meeting @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Donations.
Thu 01: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Ragtime piano. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.
Thu 01: Jake Leg Jug Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Thu 01: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Fri 02: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 02: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 02: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.
Fri 02: Joseph Carville Trio @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm.
Fri 02: Claire Martin & Her Trio @ The Witham, Barnard Castle. 7:30pm. £25.00., £20.00. Feat. Jim Mullen, Alex Garnett & Jeremy Brown.
Fri 02: Guy Davis + Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. Doors 7:30pm. Blues double bill.
Fri 02: Anders Ingram @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Blind Pig Blues Club. Country blues. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.

Sat 03: Newcastle Record Fair @ Northumbria University, Newcastle NE8 8SB. 10:00am-3:00pm. Admission: £2.00.
Sat 03: Pedigree Jazz Band @ St Augustine's Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm.
Sat 03: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. Tutor: Sue Ferris. £25.00. Enrol at: www.jazz.coop.
Sat 03: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 6:00pm. Free.
Sat 03: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 03: Papa G's Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.

Sun 04: Smokin' Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm.
Sun 04: Central Bar Quintet @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00-4:00pm. £5.00. The Central Bar Quintet plays Sonny Rollins' Saxophone Colossus. Featuring Lewis Watson.
Sun 04: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 3:00pm.
Sun 04: Struggle Buggy + Michael Littlefield @ Tyne Bar, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Acoustic blues.
Sun 04: Swinging at the Cotton Club: Harry Strutters' Hot Rhythm Orchestra @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.
Sun 04: Richard Jones Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 05: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.

Tue 06: Paul Skerritt @ The Rabbit Hole, Hallgarth St., Durham DH1 3AT. 7:00pm. Paul Skerritt's (solo) weekly residency.
Tue 06: Jam session @ Black Swan, Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. House trio: Stu Collingwood (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Sid White (drums).

Monday, January 29, 2018

CD Review: Matthew Read Trio - Anecdotes II

Benedict Wood (guitar), Matthew Read (double bass) & Arthur Newell (drums)
(Review by Russell) 
Three recent Guildhall graduates, the Matthew Read Trio is shortly to release a second album, a second volume, titled Anecdotes II. All bar one of the eleven tracks were written by bassist Read with one other contributed by guitarist Benedict Wood. Drummer Arthur Newell doesn’t contribute a
composition to the album but his sensitive playing is first-rate from start to finish.           

A press release states that the trio draws influence from ‘jazz, folk, country, hip-hop, dance music, spirituals and both European and American church music…’ Listening to the album (twice), one or two questions arise: Are these influences evident? Should one read this blurb in advance of sitting down to listen to the recording? Bebop Spoken Here’s CD and gig reviewer Steve H said recently that he listens to a review album three times. Perhaps all BST contributors could/should follow suit. First impressions are important and further listening invariably reveals something missed the first time around. A firm conclusion about Matthew Read’s Anecdotes II is that it is the work of three top class young musicians. Another conclusion is that the album purposely doesn’t set out to blow away the listener by dint of coruscating pyrotechnics. Thoughtful, measured, beautifully recorded (by Owain Fleetwood Jenkins), Anecdotes II is an album of contemporary jazz referencing the small combos noted for their abilities as composers in addition to their intimate and immaculate performances in the studio and on stage. Perhaps In Motian refers to Paul Motian. Benedict Wood’s guitar playing would have been appreciated by the likes of Jim Hall, perhaps Barney Kessel, and then there is a contemporary giant, Pat Metheny. Influences? Perhaps.

The press release imagines Kendrick Lamar (2018 Grammy award-winning ‘Best Rap Album’) and Kurt Rosenwinkel playing together would result in something like the track K. This track, more than any other, has a distinctive hook with its retro ’60s tv series theme tune feel and it is more uptempo than the other ten cuts on the album. In the era of the digital download Read’s Revolutions laments the loss of the physical product – ie the 33 rpm album (and its artwork). The track’s waltz-time feel and subtle swing make this one of two or three standout compositions. Bandleader bassist Read was the 2016 recipient of the prestigious Dankworth Prize for Big Band composition and arranging. Anecdotes II is a testament to Read’s abilities and, what’s more, he doesn’t seek the limelight, the trio form being his primary concern.                              

The Matthew Read Trio will launch the new CD Anecdotes II* on Thursday 15 February at Kansas Smitty’s in London. The trio’s British tour is underway, tonight (29 January) it’s Manchester at the Peer Hat, tomorrow it’s Liverpool (Parr Jazz), continuing throughout February into April. The Jazz Café, Newcastle welcomes the trio on Friday (2 February), 9:00pm. Advance tickets can be obtained by telephoning the venue from noon tomorrow (Tuesday) on 0191 222 9882.
Russell.
* The CD cover doesn’t identify a record label. The catalogue number is BOD002. For further info visit: www.matthewread.co.uk  or see Matthew Read at a gig as he’s sure to have copies with him.

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