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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

Monday, May 07, 2018

CD Review: The Scott Reeves Jazz Orchestra - “Without A Trace”

(Review by Dave Brownlow).
This is a good example of a large, contemporary jazz orchestra where the leader, Scott Reeves, combines all the necessary elements of the successful jazz tradition ie good material, swing, creativity, talented soloists, and excitement. Reeves has been influenced by some of the great composer/arrangers such as Duke Ellington, Gil Evans, Thad Jones, and Bob Brookmeyer and has spent years honing his craft within the current scene writing for groups such as Dave Liebman’s Big Band, and the Westchester Jazz Orchestra before setting out on his own in 2008.

The opener is Kurt Weill’s classic Speak Low which starts with a nod towards Bill Evans on his ‘New Jazz Conceptions’ album and settles into a lively Afro-Cuban rhythm including lively solos from Wilson on alto and Rogers on trumpet with some closely harmonised backgrounds. Reeves own Without A Trace follows featuring singer Carolyn Leonhart. The style of this piece with its melody containing wide intervals between some of the notes is so reminiscent of the work of our own Norma Winstone in its genre. The vocal is clear, confident and graceful – I give no praise higher than that!
The standard All Or Nothing At All has drummer Vernel Fournier’s immortal groove from Ahmad Jamal’s hit Poinciana as a main rhythmic element and features the leader on slide trombone with Chiavuzzo on alto this time.
Sections here are thoughtfully orchestrated and ‘quotes’ abound.
The Reeves’ original Incandescence is languidly Impressionist in style with a beautifully apt vibes solo and a restrained contribution from Wilson on soprano extending the mood. Wayne Shorter’s JuJu has a more ‘contemporary’ feel based as it is on fewer chords. Here, the arranger includes a sax-section segment based on Shorter’s original solo. The whole piece is quite forward-thinking….
A 12-tone row is the inspiration for ShapeShifter which includes several parts throughout its eight and a half minutes. Reeves himself solos on alto flugelhorn on a ¾ section. A fast 4/4 portion with glittering piano contrasting with huge slabs of orchestral textures develops,
after chaos, into a final haunting coda – Star Trek anybody?
Finally, Reeves’ tribute to Thad Jones – Something For Thad based on I Got Rhythm changes brings the album to a cheerful, swinging, boppish, slightly more conventional, closer with Haviland and Gravish having their only solo outings.
Throughout the CD, the standard of musicianship is extremely high, there is a broad range of material carefully arranged with nods towards the history of jazz making this an altogether agreeable listen.
Available now on ORIGIN RECORDS 82752 at www.originarts.com

Dave B.
Scott Reeves: (flugel. trombone, arranger); Steve Wilson (soprano,alto,flute), Vito Chiavuzzo (alto, flute) Rob Middleton (tenor, clarinet), Tim Armacost (tenor), Terry Goss (baritone 1- 4) Jay Brandford (baritone 5 – 7 ).
Seneca Black, Nathan Ecklund, Chris Rogers, (1-4) Bill Mobley (5 – 7), Andy Gravish (trumpets).
Tim Sessions, Matt McDonald, Matt Haviland, Max Siegel (trombones).
Jim Ridl (Piano), Dave Elson (Vibes 4), Todd Coolman (Bass), Andy Watson (Drums).
 Carolyn Leonhart Vocal (2).

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