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Bebop Spoken There

Kurt Elling: ''There's something to learn from every musician you play with''. (DownBeat, December 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

17630 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 904 of them this year alone and, so far, 49 this month (Dec. 20).

From This Moment On ...

December

Mon 23: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Wheatsheaf, Benton Sq., Whitley Road, Palmersville NE12 9SU. Tel: 0191 266 8137. 1:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Mon 23: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 4:00pm. Free.
Mon 23: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Mon 23: Milne-Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.

Tue 24: Lindsay Hannon & Mark Williams @ Ernest, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 11:00am-1:00pm. Free.
Tue 24: Paul Skerritt @ Mambo Wine & Dine, South Shields. 1:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.

Wed 25: Wot? No jazz!

Thu 26: The Boneshakers @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. The 17th annual Boneshakers’ Shindig.

Fri 27: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free. Business as usual!.
Fri 27: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 27: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

Sat 28: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 11:30am. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 28: Fri 20: Castillo Nuevo @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Sat 28: Jude Murphy, Rich Herdman & Giles Strong @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 28: Ray Stubbs R & B All-Stars @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Stepney Bank, Newcastle. 9:00pm. Free.

Sun 29: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 29: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

Wednesday, April 11, 2018

CD Review: Alyn Cosker - KPF

(Review by Lance).
A lot of disparate, often quite ethnic, elements in this album of compositions by Cosker. Serenity, for example, has Paul Towndrow wailing over a background of fiddle, mandolin, accordion, piano, bass and drums. A cacophony at times, but not an unpleasant one, in fact, more soothing to my ear than many of today's contemporary offerings.
Yatey Ate is dedicated to bandleader Tim Barella who came from Sunderland. Cosker recalls how he'd call out "Right lads, number Yatey Ate" which turned out to be no. 88 in the pad - McArthur Park. Davie Dunsmuir and Steve Hamilton are featured here. McArthur Park isn't.
Rachel Lightbody provides the voice in Dragons.
An amazing range, heather-covered hillsides spring to mind rather than fire-breathing creatures - that's left to Tommy Smith's tenor. A compelling track.
Purely Intertwined is based on the notion that love and friendship are intertwined (they certainly should be!) Joe Locke and Dunsmuir solo with Cosker ever present in support as well as providing his own lines on the notion.
KPF: Inspired by fiance Kirsty, has Alyn Cosker playing solo piano. Seems as though her grandad had a car with a number-plate that had KPF in the registration. He told her the letters stood for Kirsty's Pretty Face. Time to say 'Ahhhh!'
Hee Haw Twice features Dunsmuir and Hamilton over a jazz-rock rhythm. As befits the mode, lots of electronic wizardry in Dunsmuir's blast which isn't entirely to my liking although I know I'm in the minority here.
Eddi Reader provides the voice on We Were Young. An emotive vocal with sympathetic piano from Jim Cosker. The Adventures of Feskelar has Alyn Cosker in full-flight as he portrays his pet spaniel (Feskelar) getting up to all sorts of mischief even into space with Dunsmuir providing lift-off and Hamilton steering. This one pumps up the adrenalin!
Could Be Fate: written to celebrate whatever road life takes you on. Guitar and piano once again to the fore, their lyricism underpinned by the composer's powerful support - no shrinking violet is Alyn and the album wouldn't work if he was!
Shoogly Paw, says Alyn, is dedicated, with love, to all those virtuosos he's had the pleasure of performing with. The title comes from his future father-in-law's description of their hands when they play fast passages. Tommy Smith's solo matches that description and maybe a bit more!
Alyn plays piano on Two Stars in the Sky and the wistful vocal is by Fraser Anderson. A very moving eulogy applicable to anyone who's lost someone.
Well worth checking out - www.alyncosker.co.uk.
Lance.
Alyn Cosker (drums/piano/shaker); Steve Hamilton (keys/piano); Marcio Doctor (perc.); Davie Dunsmuir (elec. guitar); Colin Cunningham (elec. bass) + (on various tracks) Fraser Anderson (vocals); Adam Bulley (mandoline); Jim Cosker (piano); Laurence Cottle (elec. bass); Fiona Hamilton (fiddle); Kirsty Johnson (accordion); Rachel Lightbody (vocals); Joe Locke (vibes); Chas MacKenzie (acoustic guitar); Eddi Reader (voocals); Tommy Smith (tenor); Paul Towndrow (alto).

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