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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

15491 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 512 of them this year alone and, so far, 133 this month (May 31).

From This Moment On ...

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).

Wed 07: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 07: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 07: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:00pm.
Wed 07: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thu 08: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free. CANCELLED! BACK ON JUNE 15.
Thu 08: Easington Colliery Brass Band @ The Lubetkin Theatre, Peterlee. 7:00pm. £10.00.
Thu 08: Faye MacCalman + Blue Dust Archive @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Thu 08: Dilutey Juice + Ceramic @ The Ampitheatre, Sea Road, South Shields. 7:00pm. Free. A South Tyneside Festival event.
Thu 08: Lara Jones w. Vigilance State @ Lubber Fiend, Blandford Square, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Thu 08: Michael Littlefield @ the Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Country blues.
Thu 08: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Fri 09: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 09: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.
Fri 09: Castillo Nuevo @ Revolución de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30-8:30pm.
Fri 09: Emma Rawicz @ Sage Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 10: Miners' Picnic @ Woodhorn, Ashington. Music inc. Northern Monkey Brass Band (3:00-3:50pm); New York Brass Band (4:00-4:55pm).
Sat 10: Front Porch Three @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Americana, blues, jazz etc.
Sat 10: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.

Sun 11: WORKSHOP: Tim Richards' Jazz Piano Workshop @ JG Windows, Newcastle. Time TBC. Further details tel. 0191 232 1356.
Sun 11: Jeremy McMurray's Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Ropner Park, Stockton TS18 4EF. 2:00-4:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 11: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 3:00pm.
Sun 11: Groovetrain @ Innisfree Sports & Social Club, Longbenton NE12 8TY. Doors 6:30pm. £15.00 (£7.00. under 16).
Sun 11: Jeffrey Hewer Collective @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 12: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.

Saturday, February 10, 2018

CD Review: Dan Pugach Nonet - Plus One

(Review by Dave Brownlow)
Let’s get one thing quite clear from the start – this is an excellent album of modern/contemporary jazz played by a Nonet plus One of first-rate musicians who are not only terrific soloists but fine readers capable of playing and interpreting Dan Pugach’s complex charts. Dan is the bandleader/drummer/arranger/composer/ who’s been working at a high level in the jazz business since completing his Batchelor’s and Master’s degrees at Berklee and The City College of New York. As a composer/arranger, Dan brings such a freshness and imagination to the music rarely found today and as a drummer, he’s full of energy, driving the band, inspiring his soloists and occasionally soloing fiercely himself.
Brooklyn Blues is a rousing opener having a ‘funky’ groove providing opportunities for lively blues solos from trombone, baritone, drums and piano interspersed with tightly played ensemble sections. Coming Here is a medium-tempo original which has some lovely “Gil Evans-ish” harmonies and movement and features Ingrid Jensen’s first solo spot. She is now a quite outstanding trumpeter, playing with a warm burnished tone, swooping, gliding with great dexterity throughout the ranges of the horn with the fluency of (say) Kenny Wheeler or the great Fats Navarro. An expansive tenor solo follows driven by the leader through some fearsome note-reading by the band to a “Mulligan-esque” final chord.
Dolly Parton’s Jolene features Pugach’s wife Nicole Zuratis (described by the drummer as “my secret weapon”) in the first of four vocals of the album - which she also arranged herself. Carmen Staaf has the piano solo with echoes of McCoy Tyner in there. Ingrid again shines before a moving final conclusion
Zelda a gentle original ballad features David Smith on flugelhorn – another formidable talent, who’s clearly inspired by the arrangement. A blues-tinged Belo’s Bellow has a flowing alto solo from Andrew Gould with Staaf on electric piano providing another tone-colour. Chick Corea’s Crystal Silence has Nicole taking the vocal in an “operatic soprano style” which is surprising – but it works! There’s tenor sax, ensemble passages, a bass contribution before a final re-visit to the theme. Quincy Jones’ lovely song Love Dance is Nicole’s next vocal, this time back in ‘jazzy’ mode again. Smith makes two contributions to this track with astonishing virtuosity. Our Blues co-written by the husband and wife team is a down-home 12-bar blues which really gets to the bottom of the matter.  Nicole lays down the law here “I’ve got some news before I kick you out – You’re much more clever when you shut your mouth!” Gorgeous ensemble passages, a low-down piano solo from Staaf and a tenor solo add to the story. The closer Discourse This is a contemporary Pugach composition in several parts. Smith on trumpet has the up-tempo first segment, Gould on alto the slower middle section leading to a drums-led finale. Ambitious writing challenges the band throughout which makes for an exciting, abrupt ending. “The Sound Of Surprise” appears in every track!
Totally recommended, a rare 5 stars from me!
Released on February 16 by Unit Records UTR 4816 or at www.danpugach.com
Dave.
Ingrid Jensen or David Smith (tpt/flugel); Mike Fahie (tmb); Jen Hinkle (bass tmb); Andrew Gould (alto/flute); Jeremy Powell (tnr/clar); Anthony Gutauskas (bari/bass clar); Nicole Zuraitis (voice); Carmen Staaf or Jorn Swart (pno); Tamir Schmerling (bass); Bernardo Aguiar (pandiero); Dan Pugach (dm/composer/arranger/leader).

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