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Bebop Spoken There

Simon Spillett: “ Bebop and hard bop came naturally to him [Tubby Hayes]". Morning Star, March 28, 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

Fri 29: FILM: Soul @ The Forum Cinema, Hexham. 12:30pm. Jazz-themed film animation.
Fri 29: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 29: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 29: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 29: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 6:00pm. Free. POSTPONED!
Fri 29: Thundercat @ Newcastle City Hall.
Fri 29: John Logan @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 29: True Colours @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 9:00pm. Blues, jazz & swing.

Sat 30: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 30: Pete Tanton’s Cuba Libre @ Whitley Bay Library, York Road, Whitley Bay. 8:00pm.

Sun 31: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay Metro Station. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 31: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields NE30 1HJ. 3:00pm. Free. Lambert, Alan Law & Paul Grainger.
Sun 31: Sid Jacobs & Tom Remon @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. USA/London jazz guitar duo.
Sun 31: Bellavana @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

April
Mon 01: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 01: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 3:00pm. Free.

Tue 02: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Dean Stockdale, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 03: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 03: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 03: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 04: FILM: Soul @ Forum Cinema, Hexham. 2:00pm. Jazz-themed film animation.
Thu 04: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 04: Funky Drummer @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 04: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 04: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Alto Summit @ Jazz Café Jam Session - February 20

(Review by Lance).
If the keyword tonight had been sex as opposed to sax then this wouldn't have been a jam session but a bacchanalian orgy. As it was, with 4 altos and 2 tenors strutting their stuff it was certainly an evening of musical hedonism for both players and listeners.
It all began quite sedately with the house trio, this week with Stu Collingwood at the helm, gently swinging through A Foggy Day and Masquerade. The temperature rose with the arrival of Ray Johnson all the way from Northallerton. This may seem a distance but, as he previously commuted from Rothbury, probably an easier trip thanks to Richard Branson.
Ray was on flugel tonight and the mellow-toned instrument did justice to Pennies From Heaven and likewise, an edgier take on Stanley Turrentine's Sugar.
Debra Milne is never one to take the easy way out and our girl met the challenge of vocalising Coltrane's Equinox head on - the gal's got guts!
By now the room was alive as the student population descended.
Ben Richardson spelled Stu on piano, Abbie Finn gave Paul a break on drums and George Sykes set the pace on tenor with There Will Never be Another You. So far so good but when Dan Garel (the first of the altos) joined him we knew this really was a jam session. Kenny Burrell's Chitlins Con Carne the test piece. (Photo by Russell)
To describe Garel's playing as 'fluent' is like describing Usain Bolt as a 'jogger'. Garel fairly soared through the changes at almost twice the speed of light. Wisely, Sykes didn't try to outrun him but, instead, concentrated on content culminating with a bass and tenor exchange that levelled the score.
Ben Richardson separated the protagonists with a fine solo whilst Abbie Finn had a few explosions of her own to keep the boys on their toes. Needless to say, John Pope played a blinder all night despite there being no bass players in the house to give him a break.
Garel stayed aboard for Days of Wine and Roses. Ray Johnson returned along with tenorist Simon Probyn and Tom Hogg on drums.
Dan and Tom stepped down for Adam Stapleford, of the contemporary jazz group Taupe at the kit.
It Don't Mean a Thing proved that Adam has studied jazz past, present and future. He fitted in.
The delightful Inês Gonçalves from Portugal (photo by Russell), in the company of guitarist Peter, played Spain! It was one of those jam session moments when nobody quite knew when to stop - all good fun!
It had been a while since alto player number 2, Jordan Alfonso, showed at the Caff. He excelled on Take the A Train and held his own with alto number 3, Jimmy Jefford, on Beautiful Love. Paul Wight took the honours, however, with an amazing solo on brushes.
Inês returned, this time to sing Corcovado. Alto number 4, Tom Dixon joined the gang for this popular (with Portuguese singers) bossa nova.
The evening was drawing to a close but there was still time for Joel Brown to capture the piano stool for Autumn Leaves.
Final number, I'm told, was Mercy, Mercy, Mercy! but, by this time, I was on the platform waiting for the Metro.
Another killer jam at the Jazz Café.
Photos.
Lance.
PS: Because of the abundance of pianists we didn't hear as much of Stu Collingwood as many of us would have wished. However, needless to say, when he was playing he did the business as one would expect from such a classy player.
Stu Collingwood (piano); John Pope (bass); Paul Wight (drums) + Ray Johnson (flugel); Debra Milne (vocal); Ben Richardson (piano); George Sykes (tenor); Abbie Finn (drums); Dan Garel (alto); Simon Probyn (tenor); Tom Hogg (drums); Adam Stapleford (drums); Inês Gonçalves (piano & vocals); Peter ? (guitar); Jordan Alfonso (alto); Jimmy Jefford (alto); Tom Dixon (alto); Joel Brown (piano).

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