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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.

Friday, March 09, 2018

Minnie Fraser Quartet @ Gosforth Civic Theatre - March 8

Minnie Fraser (vocals); Lin Lee Wong (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass) & Rob Walker (drums)
(Review by Russell) 
Gosforth Jazz Club has been attracting sizeable audiences and another good turn out greeted the Minnie Fraser Quartet. Electing to perform on the floor of the hall enabled vocalist Fraser to make that all important connection with the listener although, because of the lighting, she wasn’t able to see into the auditorium. The focus of attention was Fraser and her band; pianist Lin Lee Wong, a scrubbed-up Paul Grainger playing double bass and drummer Rob Walker.

A medium tempo All of Me to open the set followed by an achingly slow tempo My Funny Valentine and a regulation take on Ain’t Misbehavin’ with the instrumentalists sharing the spotlight, this was a good beginning to the evening and it became abundantly clear that bandleader Fraser was playing to an on-side crowd. Pianist Lin Lee Wong’s ear for a melody stood Fraser in good stead; a look, a nod, the cue, a working partnership. Bandleader Fraser didn’t have to worry about the rhythm boys – Messrs Grainger and Walker knew this stuff inside out and Walker’s hand drumming on The Very Thought of You was up there with the best of them. God Bless the Child, Song for My Father, a set of standards, a listening audience, Fraser closed the first half of the show suggesting it would be a good idea to see bar sales ticking over during the interval.

Second set, more of the same – good! Misty, an injection of swing on Old Devil Moon with Lin Lee and PG helping themselves to solos followed by more fine piano playing from Lin Lee on Cheek to Cheek. The little heard Midnight Sun (comp. Hampton and Burke, lyrics Johnny Mercer), Lullaby of Birdland, Fraser excelling on Stardust, the band could have played on but conscious of the time the Minnie Fraser Quartet closed the evening with Darn That Dream and a Latin-tinged Georgia just in time to catch a hurtling A Train.

As the evening drew to a close Fraser’s son Simon took the mic to inform the audience that it was his mother’s birthday and it was Simon himself who lead a chorus of Happy Birthday. A nice touch to end an enjoyable evening at Gosforth Jazz Club.
Russell             

1 comment :

Anonymous said...

Well done Minnie and the band! You're a star.

Peanut

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