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Bebop Spoken There

Kelly Sill: "Just because everyone is playing through the changes in the same time doesn't mean they're actually playing together" - (JazzTimes March/April 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

15260 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 279 of them this year alone and, so far, 92 this month (March 29).

From This Moment On ...

April
Sat 01: The Big Easy @ St Augustine's Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm.
Sat 01: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. Tutor: Steve Glendinning - In a Minor Key. £25.00. Enrol at: www.jazz.coop.
Sat 01: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington Covered Market, Darlington DL1 5PN. 6:00pm. New venue, live jazz!
Sat 01: Jambone @ Sage Gateshead. 7:00pm. Free (book online). A YMP! event in the Northern Rock Foundation Hall.
Sat 01: Jude Murphy & Dan Stanley @ Prohibtion Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.
Sat 01: Boys of Brass @ Stack, Seaburn. 7:00-9:00pm.
Sat 01: Hot Club du Nord @ Pleased to Meet You, Bridge St., Morpeth. 8:00pm. £79.00. A charity fundraising event.
Sat 01: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00. RESCHEDULED to next week (Sat 08).

Sun 02: Smokin' Spitfires @ The Cluny. 12:45pm.
Sun 02: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 3:00pm.

Mon 03: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.

Tue 04: Paul Skerritt @ The Rabbit Hole, Hallgarth St., Durham DH1 3AT. 7:00pm. Paul Skerritt's (solo) weekly residency.
Tue 04: Jam session @ Black Swan, Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. House trio: Bradley Johnston (guitar); Paul Grainger (double bass); Abbie Finn (drums).

Wed 05: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 05: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 05: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:00pm.
Wed 05: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thu 06: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 06: Thursday Night Prayer Meeting @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Donations. Feat. John Pope, Marie Shreer, John Garner.
Thu 06: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibtion Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Ragtime piano. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.
Thu 06: Darlington Big Band @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Note earlier start time.

Fri 07: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 07: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.
Fri 07: Gaz Hughes Trio @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm.
Fri 07: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Traveller's Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 07: Finntet + Zoë Gilby & Andy Champion @ Bobik's, Punch Bowl, Newcastle. 8:00pm. JNE.
Fri 07: TBA @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig. Blind Pig Blues Club.

Saturday, June 30, 2018

That’s Life - The Frank Sinatra Story @ Whitley Bay Playhouse - June 29

Frank Cognoscenti  as Frank Sinatra; Stuart Collingwood (MD, piano); ? (trumpet); Jamie Toms (reeds); ? (trombone); Neil Harland (double bass); ? (drums).
(Review by Russell)
The early years, the Capitol years, Live at the Sands, the later years, the story of Francis Albert Sinatra. This multi-media theatre show is the creation of Sinatra fan Frank Cognoscenti. Working with an array of talented musicians (several of the north east’s finest answered Cognoscenti's call to join him on stage at Whitley Bay Playhouse), the show’s creator endeavours to recreate something of the magic associated with one of the iconic figures of the twentieth century.
Looking the part in a Rat Pack tuxedo, Cognoscenti apologised to the audience saying Mr Sinatra was unable to fulfil this evening’s engagement and he would do his level best as a last minute stand in. The twenty-first-century entertainer won over an adoring crowd from the word go. And ‘entertainer’ perfectly describes Mr C; the casual, nonchalant manner and, crucially, the voice to make you think, for a couple of hours or so, that Sinatra was in the house.
An on-stage screen projected images of Sinatra from his earliest days in Hoboken, initial success with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, then on to the career-defining Capitol years. Night and Day to I Only Have Eyes for You, the Las Vegas engagements, all the while Cognoscenti singing as convincingly as anyone is ever likely to, the sound of Sinatra was in the house.
The Mob and the women in Sinatra’s life – particularly Ava Gardner – were very much part of the story with Cognoscenti briefly exiting the stage from time to time as on-screen visuals were accompanied by a sonorous commentary documenting the many twists and turns, chapter upon chapter.
Cognoscenti/Sinatra in profile in front of a simple, plain board proved particularly effective (see photo). This was Sinatra in iconic pose, vintage mic stand, an imagined studio setting. Hey! Look, over there, in the wings, is that Nelson Riddle? I’ve Got the World on a String (by this time the audience couldn’t help but sing along!), Come Fly with Me, the numbers just kept on coming.

The on-stage sextet did everything required of it although it was never quite let off the leash, perhaps constrained to some extent by the use of strings (as heard on the original recordings). Several of the boys in the band used earpieces or headphones to ensure synchronicity with the soundtrack. Frank, that’s Mr Cognoscenti to you, is a fine interpreter of Francis Albert Sinatra. The next time That’s Life comes to town make sure you catch the show, you will be guaranteed a great night out.  
Russell                   

1 comment :

Patti said...

And what a night it was - wonderful ...... close your eyes, and it was Mr Blue Eyes singing! The band was great too, directed by Mr Piano Man, Stu Collingwood. Neil H was class in the rhythm section, and Jamie T was excellent! Maybe somebody will be able to give us the names of the trumpet and trombone guys??

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