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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.

Saturday, March 10, 2018

Gerry Richardson Trio @ The Gala Theatre, Durham - March 9

Gerry Richardson (organ); Rod Sinclair (guitar) & Paul Smith (drums)
(Review by Russell/Photos courtesy of Malcolm Sinclair). 
Sold out. If it’s the Gala’s monthly Friday lunchtime jazz concert take it as read, it’s sold out.* This month’s concert featured Hammond organ master Gerry Richardson. These days the Newcastle-based organist rarely, if ever, takes the big beast on the road. Now, for ease of transportation, his instrument of choice is a Crumar Mojo; lighter, smaller and portable. Otherwise, the sound is much the same. Some of the Gala Theatre’s regular patrons were hearing the Gerry Richardson Trio for the first time – what would they make of it all?
At one point during the one hour set Richardson joked that he would usually be getting out of bed around now. A smokin’ Hammond blues-drenched session is more commonly associated with the late night jazz club gig. In the Gala’s sun-drenched studio theatre high above the Wear the trio hit the ground running with Lou Donaldson’s Alligator Boogaloo. It was noted that some of the Gerry Richardson fan club had made it to Durham, the giveaway being, albeit from a sedentary position, their desire to get down to the rare grooves hitting the floor. Bandleader Richardson’s vocal style owes something to Mose Allison and it was the American’s Everybody Cryin’ Mercy which found resonance with the present day: Everybody’s crying mercy when they don’t know the meaning of the word.
 
The Gala’s printed programme listed twelve numbers to be performed during the one hour set. It soon became clear that a couple of tunes would need to be jettisoned. Wes Montgomery’s Road Song, ’Spoon’s Money is Getting Cheaper (first released on a Stateside 45) and Oscar Pettiford’s Bohemia After Dark all made the cut, the solos shared between Richardson and long-time friend Rod Sinclair playing his trusty Telecaster. Two highlights of the set, one after the other, were two numbers written by Richardson; All About McGriff (inspired by Jimmy McGriff’s All About my Girl) and a proper, self-pitying saloon bar confessional Think I’ll Lay Waste to Myself Tonight. What a good idea!

Time was pressing which meant it was time for Paul Smith’s party piece. African Sunset (another from the pen of Richardson) featured Smith’s mesmerising drum patterns. At this juncture, a small group of pupils from Bishop Barrington School sitting in the front row sat up and took notice. The mini drum masterclass could well inspire one of these musicians of the future to clock up 10,000 hours in double quick time. It is said by some that it takes ten thousand hours in the woodshed to make it as a musician. Hey kids, it’s time to get cracking!

The Gerry Richardson Trio closed the set with Bobby Hebb’s Sunny. It was noted that some were singing along. The gospel according to the smokin’ Hammond (and its successors)! Job done.        
Russell 

* April’s concert (Friday 20) will be a guaranteed sell-out. Emma Fisk and James Birkett routinely sell-out gigs wherever they go. Book now on 03000 266 600 or miss out!  

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