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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.
Mon 01: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 3:00pm. 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.

Thursday, April 05, 2018

Paul Skerritt Band @ Ashington Jazz Club - April 4

Paul Skerritt (vocals); James Harrison (piano); Anth Ord (bass); Tom Chapman (drums)
(Review by Russell) 
It was a rainy night in mid-Northumberland as the Paul Skerritt Band returned to Ashington Jazz Club some thirteen months on from a successful appearance at the Elephant public house. Jazz fans in this part of the world like Paul Skerritt and the boys and nonstop rain wasn’t to deter them.

The upstairs room of the Newbiggin Road hostelry filled up nicely as vocalist Paul Skerritt took to the stage right on time. Skerritt’s professional approach is part of the package and with his fellow musicians booted and suited a poignant opening number, What a Wonderful World, remembered two stalwarts of the regional jazz scene –  Ashington Jazz Club’s co-founder Bill Stafford and the highly respected multi-reedsman Derek Fleck who performed at the club on many occasions. 

From Curtis Stigers to Nat Cole to Lerner and Loewe’s Almost Like Being in Love, Skerritt knew what the audience wanted and duly came up with the goods. The quartet is one of friends as Paul has, seemingly, established a telepathic relationship with pianist James Harrison. They play with a sense of fun, but don’t be fooled, the musicianship is of the highest quality, and that goes for Anth Ord, bass, and drummer Tom Chapman. Amiability, good times, they’ve got it in spades, however, Gregory Porter’s committed, passionate Take Me to the Alley revealed another dimension to Paul, James, Anth and Tom. Their collective sensitivity in interpreting Porter’s song – with pianist James Harrison crafting a masterful solo – confirmed they can play heavyweight material when required.

Harold Arlen’s It’s Only a Paper Moon followed by Bill Withers’ Ain’t No Sunshine offered yet more evidence of the PSB’s ability to switch from wonderful GASbook frivolity to the heart-felt lyric: Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone. Marvin Gaye (How Sweet It Is), typical, welcome fayre, then to end the first set, a mega-pop hit – Taylor Swift’s Shake It Off – featuring James Harrison’s Teesside, as opposed to Harlem, stride piano playing. And would you believe it, Skerritt opened the second set with another huge chart success?! But wait…there was the little matter of the all-important interval raffle and your reviewer’s companion drew the winning ticket for one lucky Northumbrian jazz fan.

Those of a Postmodern Jukebox persuasion would have been up and onto the dance floor as Paul and the boys launched into their second set with Meghan Trainor’s global hit All About That Bass. Our frontman hit Ashington’s sweet spot singing the verse to Fly Me to the Moon (…in other words, baby, kiss me) then stood to one side, casually leaning Rat Pack-style on his mic stand, as the trio stretched out in swinging style. Sway, Orange Colored Sky, the Elephant’s audience lapped it up. Tom Chapman featured on I’m Beginning to See the Light – TC is on the list of top rate drummers working across the region and further afield. Skerritt kidded the band that he’d take The Lady is a Tramp at a ridiculous lick, counting them in: ‘Two, three four’ – only to relent, but, no mistake, they, were ready for it, but he was joking, neatly referring to himself as the ‘gentleman’ being the ‘tramp’ and, as if to prove a point, the trio briefly went double swing time – these boys can play, big time!

Time was pressing, and true to form, the Paul Skerritt Band obliged, finishing its set right on time with a stylish Puttin on the Ritz and the ‘having a good time’ closer Let the Good Times Roll.       
 Russell
 
            






            

1 comment :

Unknown said...

This evening was a wonderful tribute to the AJC in celebrating 36 years presenting great music from Jazz musicians in the North East.

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