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Bebop Spoken There

Steve Fishwick: “I can’t get behind the attitude that new is always somehow better than old” - Jazz Journal, April 15, 2019,

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...

Postage

16034 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 1041 of them this year alone and, so far, 73 this month (Nov. 27).

From This Moment On ...

December

Sun 03: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:30pm. £7.50.
Sun 03: The Central Bar Quartet @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00. The Central Bar Quartet plays Lou Donaldson’s Gravy Train. Featuring Jamie Toms.
Sun 03: Paul Skerritt @ Smith’s Arms, Carlton, Stockton-on-Tees. 7:00pm.
Sun 03: Johnny Hunter Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 03: Jam session @ The Schooner, Gateshead. 8:00pm. Free.

Mon 04: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Mon 04: Northern Monkey Brass Band @ People’s Kitchen, Bath Lane, Newcastle. From 5:30pm. On-street gig supporting the work of the People’s Kitchen charity. Wrap up warm! Donate!
Mon 04: Michael Young Trio w Lindsay Hannon @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 7:00pm. Free.
Mon 04: James Birkett Trio @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £8.00.
Mon 04: Durham University Jazz Orchestra + Durham University Big Band @ Durham Castle DH1 3RW. 8:30pm. £6.00.; £5.00. concs; £4.00. DSM. ‘Jazzy Christmas’.

Tue 05: Customs House Big Band @ All Saints Church, Cleadon. 7:00pm. Concert in the church hall. BYOB.
Tue 05: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Sid White. The best free show in town!

Wed 06: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 06: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 8:00pm. Free. Note later start time, concert performance (open to the public).
Wed 06: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thu 07: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free CANCELLED!
Thu 07: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Spanish City, Whitley Bay, Newcastle. 12 noon - 4:00pm. £26.00 (inc 3-course meal in in St Mary's Lighthouse Suite). SOLD OUT!
Thu 07: Gateshead Jazz Appreciation Society @ Gateshead Central Library, Gateshead. 2:30pm. All welcome.
Thu 07: Thursday Night Prayer Meeting @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.Donations. Feat. Mark Sanders.
Thu 07: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00. Downstairs.
Thu 07: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Fri 08: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 08: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 08: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.
Fri 08: Hayley's Little Big Band @ Woodland Village Hall, Bishop Auckland. 7:00pm. £12.00.
Fri 08: Sleep Suppressor + Redwell @ Head of Steam, Neville St., Newcastle. 8:00pm. £10.00. (£8.00. adv); £5.00. student.
Fri 08: Hot Club du Nord @ St Cuthbert's Church, Shadforth, Co. Durham.
Fri 08: Têtes de Pois + Nauta @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £8.00.

Sat 09: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Sat 09: Abbie Finn Trio @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm.
Sat 09: Hayley's Little Big Band @ Middleton & Todridge Village Hall, Morpeth. 7:30pm. £12.00., £6.00.
Sat 09: Paul Skerritt @ Slaley Hall, Hexham NE47 0BX. 7:30pm. From £42.00.

Sunday, February 25, 2018

Nikki Iles Masterclass @ The Music Department, Durham University - February 24

(Review by Russell)
Pianist, composer and educator Nikki Iles arrived in Durham on a cold but bright winter’s afternoon. Students filed into the ancient concert hall in Durham University’s Music Department up on Palace Green as Dan Garel and Tristan Bacon made last-minute preparations to the stage set-up. As this Saturday afternoon masterclass was to be given by one of Britain’s finest pianists the availability of a Steinway was a plus point. At least three, maybe more, student pianists were in attendance keen to learn more about the art of jazz piano.
Dan suggested Nikki could, perhaps, begin by outlining her career to date and her current projects. From Leeds College of Music to the London jazz scene to teaching posts to working with a long list of stellar names, Durham’s 2017/18 student cohort was left in little doubt as to Nikki’s achievements and standing on the jazz scene. The theme of the afternoon was to be ‘improvisation’ and so it was but the masterclass would embrace more, much more than this. Nikki arrived by train, bringing with her three compositions for her students to examine; charts by Charles McPherson, Kenny Wheeler and Dave Holland.

The student rhythm section on the stage, the horn players in a broad semi-circle on the floor of the hall, Iles listened to the ensemble with all soloing on McPherson’s Primal Urge. A beaming Iles was fulsome in her praise: Great. You can all play! Having gauged her masterclass participants’ abilities Iles enthusiastically introduced the subject of harmony. Standing in front of a board (see photo) our guest proceeded to scribble down impenetrable (to the non-music student audience!) symbols. The Manhattan Project’s J. Robert Oppenheimer – known as the ‘father of the atomic bomb’ – sprung to mind. Would he have been able to keep up with this high-level stuff?! There was talk of triads, roots  and arpeggios, diminished chords, major this and minor that, gobbledygook to some, but not to our students, they were jotting down ideas or making mental notes as Iles, by now in full flow, scribbled some more. Quick, take a photo…see photo.

Dan Garel led the altos, Zach Fox played tenor. Who’s that on trombone? It’s Matt Jacobs! Durham University alumnus Jacobs, a first-rate pianist (Durham University Big Band, Matt Jacobs Trio), was in town to hook up with some of his old mates and here he was blowing a mean ’bone (see photo). Iles played little piano, preferring to let her students show what they could do. Iles’ enthusiasm did see things overrun a little! Moving on to a Kenny Wheeler chart (sadly, time constraints meant that  Dave Holland’s composition would have to wait for another day) Iles sat, briefly, at the Steinway to play a few bars with the ensemble. All present applauded and a smiling Iles appeared to be slightly embarrassed, eager to get on with matters at hand! At one point Jacobs asked to play piano. Illes happily accommodated his request and it took just a few seconds for our guest to realise just how good a pianist Jacobs is!   

One sensed Iles would have happily extended the masterclass into the early evening but, alas, all good things come to an end and it was at Dan’s suggestion that the afternoon close with a Q&A. A forest of hands shot up – questions asked, questions answered, Iles had been the ideal guest and a group photograph captured the occasion. In years to come those fortunate enough to be a part of Nikki Iles’ illuminating masterclass will look back on the day with fond memories.          

Russell

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