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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.

Monday, January 08, 2018

Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny - Jan 7

Neil Hunter (vocals), Steve McGarvie (alto saxophone & vocals), Alan Thompson (tenor saxophone), Terry O’Hern (trombone & vocals), Mike Hepple (Hammond organ & vocals), Bob Garrington (guitar), Ian Rigby (bass & vocals) & Gary Cain (drums)
(Review by Russell) 
The idea was that the Smokin’ Spitfires would play a one-off charity gig. That was a few years ago and now, in the first week of 2018, the band’s regular first Sunday in the month lunchtime gig goes from strength to strength having chalked up dozens of appearances and it’s still all for charity. The eight-piece band emerged phoenix-like from the embers of the legendary Eastside Torpedoes and it continues to attract a loyal following with many fans undoubtedly there from the beginning.

The Smokin’ Spitfires mine the glory years of the Atlantic and Stax record labels adding one or two of their own soul-stirring originals to the set list. Founding members of the Eastside Torpedoes Neil Hunter and Terry O’Hern are at the helm; Hunter these days sporting a geet big Santa Claus beard hasn’t lost any of his considerable vocal power, and O’Hern’s arrangements guarantee the Spitfires fire on all cylinders from note one. Jumpin’ in the Spotlight, Kissin’ in the Rain (it wasn’t, raining that is), a typically rip-roaring start. The Temptations’ Can’t Get Next to You, the Wilson Pickett chart hit 634-5789 (comp. Eddie Floyd and Steve Cropper), the horns killing on Move On Up, bona fide soul classics, all with Hunter’s ‘wake the dead’ vocals. The horn players are well known on the regional jazz scene; Alan Thompson (tenor) and Steve McGarvie (alto sax) are members of the Jazztones, although McGarvie plays keyboards in the latter outfit, and, along with Terry O’Hern, are fixtures in the award-winning Durham Alumni Big Band. Playing this stuff with the Smokin’ Spitfires must be a blast!


Arthur Conley’s Sweet Soul Music heard McGarvie, O’Hern, Mike Hepple and Ian Rigby supplying  the ‘Yeah, Yeah’ backing vocals to Hunter – and the audience! – singing the tongue-twisting lyrics, and finally, Sam and Dave insisted Hold On, I’m Comin’. The Smokin’ Spitfires are great fun, never do they seem to tire of the set list, the rhythm section – Hepple on Hammond organ, bassist Rigby and drummer Gary Cain – lays down a rock steady foundation upon which Hunter, the horns, and guitarist Bob Garrington deliver the goods time and again.
Russell                       

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