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Bebop Spoken There

Branford Marsalis: "As ignorance often forces us to do, you make a generalisation about a musician based on one specific record or one moment in time." - (Jazzwise June 2023).

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!"

Postage

15491 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 512 of them this year alone and, so far, 133 this month (May 31).

From This Moment On ...

Mon 05: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.

Tue 06: Paul Skerritt @ The Rabbit Hole, Hallgarth St., Durham DH1 3AT. 7:00pm. Paul Skerritt's (solo) weekly residency.
Tue 06: Jam session @ Black Swan, Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. House trio: Stu Collingwood (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Sid White (drums).

Wed 07: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 07: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 07: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:00pm.
Wed 07: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thu 08: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free. CANCELLED! BACK ON JUNE 15.
Thu 08: Easington Colliery Brass Band @ The Lubetkin Theatre, Peterlee. 7:00pm. £10.00.
Thu 08: Faye MacCalman + Blue Dust Archive @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Thu 08: Dilutey Juice + Ceramic @ The Ampitheatre, Sea Road, South Shields. 7:00pm. Free. A South Tyneside Festival event.
Thu 08: Lara Jones w. Vigilance State @ Lubber Fiend, Blandford Square, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Thu 08: Michael Littlefield @ the Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Country blues.
Thu 08: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Fri 09: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 09: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.
Fri 09: Castillo Nuevo @ Revolución de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30-8:30pm.
Fri 09: Emma Rawicz @ Sage Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 10: Miners' Picnic @ Woodhorn, Ashington. Music inc. Northern Monkey Brass Band (3:00-3:50pm); New York Brass Band (4:00-4:55pm).
Sat 10: Front Porch Three @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Americana, blues, jazz etc.
Sat 10: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.

Sun 11: WORKSHOP: Tim Richards' Jazz Piano Workshop @ JG Windows, Newcastle. Time TBC. Further details tel. 0191 232 1356.
Sun 11: Jeremy McMurray's Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Ropner Park, Stockton TS18 4EF. 2:00-4:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 11: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 3:00pm.
Sun 11: Groovetrain @ Innisfree Sports & Social Club, Longbenton NE12 8TY. Doors 6:30pm. £15.00 (£7.00. under 16).
Sun 11: Jeffrey Hewer Collective @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 12: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.

Saturday, June 16, 2018

Martin Speake @ Opus 4 Jazz Club, Darlington - June 15

Martin Speake (alto saxophone); Paul Edis (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); Russ Morgan (drums)
(Review by Russell) 
Ingerlund! Ingerlund! Ingerlund! Yes, it’s that time of year, England expects…not very much. The quadrennial global festival of football is underway. In the lounge of the Traveller’s Rest the World Cup match in progress – Portugal v Spain, Even-Stephen at 2-2 – was being watched by the few, with the majority more concerned with getting the beers in and then climbing the stairs to claim a seat in readiness for the appearance of Martin Speake.


Earlier in the day, saxophonist Martin Speake played to another large turn out in the Gala’s Studio Theatre. Working with a friend of old, adopted Geordie, drummer Russ Morgan and two of the north east’s home-grown, world-class jazz musicians – pianist Paul Edis and bassist Andy Champion – Speake made the short hop from the Land of the Prince Bishops down to Opus 4 Jazz Club for this summer’s evening engagement. The one-time Itchy Fingers’ man must have been delighted Russ, Paul and Andy were available for both gigs.

A man of few words, Speake let his alto speak, so to Speake. Under the gaze of Opus 4’s gallery of jazz greats, the altoist’s modus operandi – state the theme, develop extended solo, step aside, listen to the contributions of his fellow musicians, return centre stage to take it out – is, perhaps, a model some others could adopt. Grandstanding wasn’t his game, consummate musicianship was. Speake’s full, lyrical tone is rooted in old-school ways of playing with an ear to the current crop of incisive, biting alto saxophonists. Victor Young’s Delilah, with particular reference to the EmArcy recording by Clifford Brown and Max Roach, illustrated Speake’s default adherence to the bebop revolution. Where Are You? (comp. Adamson/McHugh), I Wish I Knew (comp. Warren/Gordon), Once in a While (a US No.1 for Tommy Dorsey), it was refreshing to hear a set list comprised of fewer predictable standards. It’s probable that the trio received little, or no, notice of the altoist’s selections. How magical it was that they produced such a flawless performance.

One of many highlights – a double helping of Charlie Parker, first Drifting on a Reed, followed by Bird Feathers – must have had Speake thinking his Durham/Darlington day away was one of his more satisfying engagements such was the brilliance of his bandmates. Speake’s wonderful solo excursions were more than matched by pianist Edis, Champion’s imperious bass playing and the class act at the back, drummer Morgan.

Opus 4 regulars groaned, some dared to titter, as Speake introduced Strangers in the Night (the tune Frank Sinatra didn’t like singing!). How wrong can one be?! The evening’s star guest turned the number inside out, re-harmonising and improvising as if on one of Bird’s reeds. To close the evening Speake chose to play Round Midnight then Richard Rodgers’ If I Loved You. An assured performer is Speake, it had been a while since his last appearance in the region, here’s hoping he returns sooner rather than later.   
Russell                   

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