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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

Thursday, April 19, 2018

Julija Jacenaite & Alan Law at The Dun Cow, Jesmond - April 18

Julija Jacenaite (vocals/piano); Alan Law (piano) + George Sykes (tenor).
(Review by Lance).
I've heard Julija several times at jam sessions and never failed to be impressed. However, a couple of numbers at a jam is far removed from the responsibility of sustaining that momentum over a two-set gig and I was curious to see if she could cut it. 
Any doubts I may have had vanished with the opening bars of Misty - this, I told myself was going to be good and it was good - maybe as good as it gets except, as the night unfolded it got even better!
An original, Mood 3, The Girl From Ipanema, introduced in English, sung in Portuguese by a lady from Lithuania and much appreciated by a couple at my table who were from Norway!
Jazz - the international language.
Some might say that Cry me a River has been done to death. maybe, but tonight it got the kiss of life. This was the most incredible version ever - Julija's intermingling of song, spoken word, scat, gestures and facial expressions was pure jazz theatre. Away from the tear-jerking River, Cheek to Cheek bounced along nicely and the set ended with Love me or Leave me  
Nobody left!
Of course, this was a duo gig and Alan Law, deservedly accorded equal billing, maintained the standard he'd set at the previous night's Jazz Café Jam Session providing JJ with sympathetic support and superb solos when let off the leash.
Intermission time and I was pleased the Norwegian couple, Torgeir and Siri, were enjoying the show.
Apart from singing, Julija involves the audience with her in between numbers chat which made for a homely atmosphere
Second set opened up with All of Me before tenor sax man George Sykes blew on Take the A Train, Angel Eyes and It Don't Mean a Thing. The empathy between sax and voice on Angel Eyes was incredible for an unrehearsed number. George, incidentally, is looking for the opportunity to blow with a big band so if anyone knows of one he's a reader and a soloist.
Alan Law left to see a man about a dog so JJ sat at the keyboard and played a couple of choruses of Chick Corea's Spain followed by some Chopin (or maybe some other classical guy) - amazing.
The evening drew to a close with Alan back at the keys and the best Lithuanian singer I've ever heard in Newcastle stamping her brand on Mood Indigo. Upon reflection, I'm almost tempted to delete Lithuanian from that sentence.
A grand evening that deserved more support. Earlier, my new Norwegian friends who were staying nearby had gone out for a stroll, it being a rare balmy Spring evening, only to have their walk curtailed by the sign outside the pub saying 'Live Jazz Tonight'. End of walk.
For anyone out walking next Wednesday (April 25), it is Jam Session Night at the Dun Cow. Who knows, if you ask, the band may play Walkin' which will save you on foot leather!
Photos.
Lance.
PS: Watch this space for news on JJ's debut album.

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