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Bebop Spoken There

Spasmo Brown: “Jazz is an ice cream sandwich! It's the Fourth of July! It's a girl with a waterbed!”. (Syncopated Times, July, 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

17346 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 630 of them this year alone and, so far, 35 this month (Sept. 11).

From This Moment On ...

September

Thu 12: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 12: Gateshead Jazz Appreciation Society @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:30pm. £4.00. ‘A Great Day in Harlem’.
Thu 12: The Cuban Heels @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Pete Tanton & co.
Thu 12: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesborough. 8:30pm. Free. THC with guests Donna Hewitt, Bill Watson, Dave Archbold, Adrian Beadnell, Mark Hawkins.

Fri 13: Jeff Barnhart & Neville Dickie @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Two pianos, two pianists! SOLD OUT!
Fri 13: Noel Dennis Quartet @ The Old Library, Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 13: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Dilutey Juice @ Old Coal Yard, Byker, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £11.00. adv..
Fri 13: Ray Stubbs R & B All-stars @ The Forum, Darlington. 7:30pm. Classic blues.

Sat 14: Jeff Barnhart’s Silent Film Fest @ St Augustine's Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club.
Sat 14: Customs House Big Band w. Ruth Lambert @ St Paul’s Centre, St Paul’s Gardens, Spennymoor DL16 7LR. 7:00pm (6:45pm doors). Tickets £10.00. from the venue or tel: 01388 813404. A ‘BYOB’ event.
Sat 14: Emma Wilson @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm. £12.00. Acoustic blues.
Sat 14: Rat Pack - Swingin’ at the Sands @ Billingham Forum. 7:30pm.

Sun 15: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Jude Murphy, Steve Chambers & Sid White @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 15: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Panharmonia @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 16: Swing Manouche @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00.
Mon 16: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 16: John Hallam with the James Birkett Trio @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00. A Blaydon Jazz Club 40th anniversary concert!

Tue 17: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Victoria & Albert Inn, Seaton Delaval. 12:30pm. £13.00. Tel: 0191 237 3697. ‘Indian Summer Afternoon Tea’.
Tue 17: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels (guitar); Paul Grainger (double bass); Abbie Finn (drums).

Wed 18: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 18: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 18: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 18: Hot Club of Heaton @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘third Wednesday in the month’ session.

Saturday, March 31, 2018

RIP Derek Fleck


Just received the sad news that sax/clarinet/banjo man Derek Fleck died on Wednesday, March 28. Former meteorologist, Derek was a relatively late arrival on the northeast jazz scene but soon made his presence felt with all the local trad bands but, perhaps, most of all with the West Jesmond Rhythm Kings.

When the WJRK folded after the death of Mike Durham, Derek became part of the Jazz in the Afternoon band at the Crescent Club in Cullercoats. 
He was a good robust player who often claimed that he was really a modernist at heart although in the lineups he invariably played in there was no such indication.
Now we'll never know. The important thing is that he did what he did and did it well.
Condolences to Alice and family.
Sadly missed.
Lance  
(Photo courtesy of Brian Bennett).
See comment by John Taylor.
See comment/link by Ian.

6 comments :

Brian (Vieux Carré Jazzmen) said...

Over the years I've seen Derek perform alongside and duet with many of the jazz world's 'A list' reed players, mainly when he was with Mike Durham's West Jesmond Rhythm Kings. John Barnes, George Huxley, Matthias Seuffert, Monty Sunshine, Frank Brooker and so many others - all 'world class'. In my opinion Derek was up there with the best of them.
In his 'day job' he was a meteorologist at the Newcastle Weather Centre and regularly broadcast on Radio Newcastle. I remember travelling with the WJRK's to the Isle of Bute jazz festival. En route, Derek stood at the front of the coach with his weather charts and gave a formal, detailed weather forecast for the weekend ahead - hilarious! Happy memories, Derek! R.I.P.

John Taylor said...

Can't think that its 4 years since we went to the final WJRK concert at the Isle of Bute Jazz Festival which I attended
I've posted the last recording I did of Derek (in the grand parade on the final day).

Mike Green said...

Sorry to hear about Dereks sad passing, I played drums with him in the vieux carre band
on numerous occasions, and also with the maine street jazzband.he was a superb musician, and a thoroughly nice guy, I don't know whether he drove or not, but I gave him a lift home as well from time to time!
Sadly missed.yet another of us playing in the big band up there!
Condolences from Mike Green.

CCJAZZMEN said...

Such sad news about Derek. I remember going to the Wheatsheaf in New York
to see him blow with all the guys at a jam session there in the 1980's when his
nickname was the weatherman. Derek always had a very good knowledge of jazz
and was also a very fine musician.

All of us here in Hong Kong , musicians and listener's send our very heartfelt condolences to Alice and the family. R.I.P.

Colin Aitchison
China Coast Jazzmen
Ned Kelly's Last Stand Hong Kong.

Ian said...

Derek Fleck was my father-in-law. On behalf of the family, I would like to say thank you for all the kind words about Derek.

I attach a link to a recording of Derek in the car park at the Whitley Bay Jazz Festival in 2010 when an evacuation due to a false fire alarm prompted a performance in the car park of 'I don't want to set the world on fire'

https://youtu.be/ZbmkG3FeXWc?t=2m29s

Unknown said...

Derek was my first Cousin.We lost contact years ago .So sad to hear he died .What a talent he had.I am trying to locate my family.It would be lovely to hear from you.We live in France .My mother Esme Turnor was his Aunt.Eileen Fleck and Leslie Fleck his parents and Brenda his first wife.Sending Best Wishes Jean Barnett

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