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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

US Musical Prodigy to play in UK.

Sixteen-year-old US pianist and musical prodigy Matthew Whitaker will visit the UK in April 2018 to play two intimate and exclusive live shows in Milton Keynes and London.

First discovering a keyboard at three years old and self-teaching himself the Hammond organ from the age of nine, Matthew’s outstanding natural talent has helped him to achieve a series of ‘world firsts’: The youngest ever artist to be endorsed by Hammond in its eighty plus year history at only thirteen, subsequently the youngestever musician to join the elite group of Yamaha endorsed pianists at fifteen, and winning the Outstanding Soloist Award from New York’s Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Charles Mingus High School Competition and the Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition all before the age of sixteen.

This list of accolades would be more than enough to pique the interest of critics and discerning music lovers alike, but the fact that Matthew happens to be a blind musician adds a whole new level to how exceptional he is as a performing artist.

Matthew began last year by being named one of ‘17 People To Watch’ in 2017 by one of New Jersey's largest newspapers, The Record. This feature was then picked by USA Today and published throughout the States. He closed 2017 by being listed as one of Crain's New York Business's ‘20 Under 20’, a highly influential list that highlights young people under twenty years old that have made significant accomplishments toward their professional goals.

Even at such a young age, Matthew’s soaring career has put him into contact with a plethora of famous musicians and industry figures, all of whom have recognised his potential as a world-class artist. From Wynton Marsalis to Stevie Wonder, Dr Lonnie Smith to Quincy Jones - each of these hugely successful icons have championed Matthew individually.

Matthew has collaborated with an array of outstanding players including Christian McBride, Regina Carter, Cory Henry and the legendary Roy Ayers to name just a few. At 10 years old, he was invited to perform at Stevie Wonder’s induction into the Apollo Theatre’s Hall of Fame. He returned to the Apollo for FOX TV’s revival of SHOWTIME AT THE APOLLO in 2016, where he won the audience over with his rendition of Stevie Wonder’s classic ‘I Wish’.  Matthew has also been interviewed and played live on a range of high profile US television shows including the immensely popular talk show ELLEN! and The Today Show on NBC.

An extensive touring schedule has seen Matthew perform at world famous venues such as Carnegie Hall and Jazz At Lincoln Centre. His 2017 debut album ‘Outta The Box’ (featuring Sammy Figueroa, Will Calhoun and Christian McBride) maintained aJazzweek chart positioning for 14 weeks and was listed as one of the best debuts of 2017 by The New York City Jazz Record. British music fans will have the chance to listen to some fantastic original compositions, as well as new arrangements of timeless classics. Now UK audiences will be able to witness Matthew Whitaker’s sensational talent in an intimate live setting, a rare chance to catch a rising star on his ascent into the stratosphere!

MATTHEW WHITAKER ON USA TODAY SHOW: 


MATTHEW WHITAKER ON ELLEN DE GENERES SHOW: 


2018 UK LIVE DATES:
13th April             The Stables                    Milton Keynes
14th April             Pizza Express Jazz         London

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