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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

Tuesday, May 29, 2018

Pete Gilligan Trio @ the Prohibition Bar / Left Hand Lewis @ Wardley Hotel - May 28

Pete Gilligan (piano); Paul Grainger (bass); Russ Morgan (drums).
(Review by Lance/photos by Russell)
There's a scene in the movie adaptation of Hemingway's Snows of Kilimanjaro where Benny Carter plays Blue Mountain in a dimly-lit bar*. Set in the 1930s I'm always reminded of that scene when I enter the Prohibition Bar, particularly on a jazz evening. Last night was no exception and although Benny Carter was missing, along with Ava Gardner and Gregory Peck, the presence of the Pete Gilligan Trio retained the Hemingway-like ambiance.
Since his departure to foreign climes (see the previous post) pianist Gilligan's playing seems to have reached an even higher level going by his recent performances here and at other venues around town. It must be the Thai cuisine or the fact that the country once had a king who played the saxophone. Whatever, he played his ass off, to coin a phrase. 

Grainger too seems to raise his already impressive game when Pete's on piano whilst Russ Morgan and fellow kitmen Matt MacKellar and Eric Stutt also never fail to deliver.
From the opening Whisper Not to the closing (for me that is) Witchcraft the evening flew past in a cascade of notes. Swinging and sensitive. The known and the not so well known. The good, but never the bad or the ugly.
Oliver Nelson's The Meeting; Weaver of Dreams (had there been a request from Glasgow?); Our Spanish Love Song (Charlie Haden); On the Sunny Side of the Street; Alec Wilder's Moon and Sand; Bouncing With Bud; Tenderly; Take the A Train; Opus de Funk and Old Folks were the other tunes I heard. Even without Benny Carter, Ava Gardner and Gregory Peck. Ernest Hemingway's presence was still felt.

(Meanwhile, earlier)
Left Hand Lewis (piano/vocal) @ The Wardley Hotel, Bill Quay.
Hemingway's presence hadn't reached the Wardley Hotel some 3 or 4 miles down river where Left Hand Lewis was rockin' and rollin' in the best tradition of his namesake Jerry Lee. The bank holiday drinkers were up for it as LHL pounded the keyboard into near submission and gave his vocal chords a workout as the patrons boogied and woogied.
I liked the words on one of the reveller's tee-shirt: "I may be old but I've seen all the good bands". A sentiment I'd go along with although we'd probably be at odds as to who the good bands were!
Nevertheless, an entertaining start to the evening.
Lance

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