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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 ...

June

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.
Sun 04: Jam No. 18 @ Fabio's Bar, Saddler Street, Durham. 8:00pm. Free. All welcome. A Durham University Jazz Society event.

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).

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.

Thursday, February 22, 2018

Group Theory + The Early Bird Band - A Jazz North East ‘Schmazz’ double bill @ The Jazz Café - February 15

Daniel Garel (Alto Sax); Ollie Farley (guitar);  Dylan Purches (bass);  Tristan Bacon (drums)
(Review/photos courtesy of Ken Drew)
Group Theory is a quartet of students (some are now ex-students) from Durham, all members of the University’s award-winning Big Band, but this the small group format gives them the opportunity to write and perform new compositions. They play a mix of imaginatively interpreted jazz standards alongside original compositions, mainly from the pen of alto saxophonist Daniel Garel.
The intro was a lively piece (Asymmetry?) by Garel which had a distinctly bluesy feel, followed by a tune with a strong groove, blues-tinged also, with an interesting time signature/rhythm, over which sax and guitar soloed.  Then a slow & melodic tune to take things down a bit, sax-led throughout.  To me, it was reminiscent of the laid-back style found in Duke’s Far East Suite. Nicely done, and a pleasingly slow pace.
Next Circling Outwards which was borne out of  Garel’s experimental drums/sax duo with Bacon on drums.  Garel remarked that he now looks back with surprise at this duo playing at such an event – but it was edgy and fun!  The next piece emerged from that duo, now re-worked into the quartet’s repertoire.   This was another fine piece, with lots of applause for the sax & guitar solos, perfectly backed by drums & bass.

The next piece to follow was, in fact, a première.  Dreamlike in pace and rhythm, with gentle drum accompanying moving through a depiction of the reaction to losing someone then returning to a peaceful pace. The guitar sequence was subtly echoed and nicely blues-tinged.  At the end, a few seconds of silence preceded the audience’s keen applause. Next up – a guest guitarist! Francis Tulip took to the stage to play a quick standard. After a brief intro, it quickly went into an extended nicely-paced solo from Tulip showing his dexterity along the fretboard, followed by a sax solo – at a fair pace too. Then to an energetic drum break, and close. 

The final tune:  Funk in Vermicelli (or was it Pumpkin Vermicelli or something similar? ). Again, interesting rhythms, quite angular both initially and again towards the end.  With an excellent sax solo then guitar solo, concluding with sax above the distinctly angular rhythm. Quite a varied piece, but hung together well.

So, a much appreciated all-round performance by Group Theory – their all-original compositions sounding very fresh, melodic and varied, with a good vibe to them all. 
-----
Alex Thompson (alto); James Metcalf (flugel, tpt); Thomas  Henry (guitar); Ben Lawrence (piano);  Alex Shipsey (bass);   Dylan Thompson (drums); Paul Edis (MD, sax, flute)
Previous to that, we heard from the Early Bird Band which was originally established by pianist Paul Edis (their MD) as a rehearsal group at Newcastle’s Lit & Phil, with all the members being in their teens. Also playing a mix of standards and originals - that they are increasingly in demand for ‘regular’ gigs beyond their regular rehearsals.  Paul Edis did remark tonight that it seemed to be the golden period of this second generation of Early Bird Band (the first incarnation supported Laura Jurd at Sage Gateshead) since they each have to move on at some stage.  He also remarked that we’d hear 3 or 4  World Premieres tonight, played by some of the finest emerging talent in the North East.  

First off, a lively tune (by Kenny Dorham, transcribed by Metcalf) with a good vibe to it providing a nice lively start.  Brief solos from the front line got us in the mood for what’s to come, as all seemed to be on-form from the start.  Next, Clouded Hills - Alex’s Thompson’s ballad with fine solos from Thompson on alto, Metcalf on flugel and Henry on guitar. Edis moved to flute for this one.  Then a composition by the pianist Ben Lawrence, but as yet it is not named. With a feel-good vibe, it has a nice melody with plenty room for solos from Lawrence himself, and Metcalf on flugel. 

Next was Dorian Atmosphere.  A loosely scored piece to provide opportunities for some improvisation.  With a loose feel, and some funky sections it gave (according to Edis) “an insight into the minds of Teenagers “.  Well, that’s one way to look at it, but it came together well, and all involved played very confidently. A very adventurous and progressive piece for such a young set of players.

Lastly - a Mingus tune, also transcribed by Metcalf. It was another quick and lively one, a good all-rounder to finish on.  Briefish solos were taken around the band, keeping it very lively, including a welcome and very enthusiastic drum solo from Dylan Thompson.  He may have been hidden at the back, but he made his presence felt!!  

In all, it was a good opportunity to see two bands showcasing what young developing musicians can do, as an ensemble and individually.
Ken

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