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Bebop Spoken There

Béla Fleck: “ And that's the great thing about live performances, you take people on a journey. It doesn't have to be like something else they've heard. It's not supposed to be". DownBeat, April, 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

Thu 28: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 28: Gateshead Jazz Appreciation Society @ Gateshead Central Library, Gateshead. 2:30pm.
Thu 28: Richard Herdman Quartet @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 28: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Guests: Josh Bentham (alto sax); Alan Marshall (tenor sax); Neil Brodie (trumpet); Adrian Beadnell (bass); Graham Thompson (keys); Steve Hunter (drums).

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.

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.

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.

Saturday, April 07, 2018

GIJF Day 1: Tony Allen - A Tribute to Art Blakey; Zara McFarlane; Tiptoe - Sage Gateshead, April 6

Tony Allen (drums); Jean Phil Bary (piano/organ); Mathias Allamane (bass); ? (guitar); Nicolas Giraud (trumpet); Yann Jankieiewicz (tenor).
(Review by Lance/Zara McFarlane photo courtesy of Ken Drew.)
A tribute band can take two approaches: a) they can play the tried and tested hits that the audience recognise and start applauding a few bars in or, b) They attempt to convey the 'feel' of the original whilst putting their own take on the music. This latter approach is the more sensible, you're never going to beat the original - it's impossible - they got there first.
Wisely, Tony Allen took this latter approach looking more towards the later Blakey years rather than the Silver beginnings.
The 78-year-old drummer played a program with a strong ethnic feel to it as befitted a tribute to a man also known as 'Buhaina' and who himself [Allen] was born in Nigeria.
Not the overpowering backseat driver that Blakey was, Allen, nevertheless, kept the other five on their toes.
Particularly impressive were pianist Bary and bassist Allamane. The guitarist, sorry I didn't catch her name, had a good blast but I was disappointed not to hear more from the horns. When they did solo I wanted more but their position at the side of the stage indicated they were there as a section rather than individuals. 
All in all a good start to the weekend.
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Zara McFarlane (vocal); Peter Edwards (piano/synth); Max Luthert (bass); Sam Jones (drums); Binker Golding (tenor).
Zara McFarlane opened this three band bash (Sun Ra Arkestra review later) and it was an excellent start. Zara has good clear diction and a vocal range the envy of many of her contemporaries. A program of originals from her latest album Arise made for a steady, well-balanced set. Apart from the singer's outstanding performance, we had Binker Golding blowing tenor to die for. Binker without Moses may seem like Dec without Ant but both Binker and Moses are great musicians in their own right and, no doubt, they have many more duo gigs ahead. Tonight, however, it was Sam Jones behind the kit and he was awesome. So too was Peter Edwards on piano and synth all ably supported by Max Luthert on bass.
The shouted for and received encore was well-deserved. 
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Tiptoe: Alice Higgins (vocals); Will Blackstone (trumpet); Conall Mulvenna (guitar); Roz MacDonald (bass).
Down on The Concourse, the Jazz North supported 'Northern Line' ensemble Tiptoe served up the aperitif with a tasty selection of songs showcasing four fine musicians from Leeds. Catch them again - they're worth hearing in a more intimate setting.

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