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Bebop Spoken There

David Hadju: "It was kind of a lightning bolt [seeing a photo of a hi-fi store that's now occupied by a phone store]. Everyone had hi-fi systems, now everyone has a phone" - (DownBeat May 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

15478 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 499 of them this year alone and, so far, 120 this month (May 27).

From This Moment On ...

May 2023

Sun 28: Bradley Creswick's Western Swingfonia @ Whitley Bay Carnival. Free. Plaza Arena stage. 12 noon.
Sun 28: MSK @ Whitley Bay Carnival. 12:15pm. Free. Marquee stage. MSK - Steve Glendinning, Katy Trigger, Martin Douglas.
Sun 28: Musicians Unlimited @ The Park Inn, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: Back Chat Brass @ Whitley Bay Carnival. 1:30pm. Free. Marquee stage.
Sun 28: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: Tim Kliphuis Trio @ St Mary's Church, Wooler NE71 6BZ. 3:00pm. £15.00 standard; £5.00 student/unwaged; free under 18. Afternoon Cocktail, a Wooler Summer Arts' concert promotion. Kliphuis (violin); Nigel Clark (guitar); Roy Percy (double bass).
Sun 28: Back Chat Brass @ Whitley Bay Carnival. 3:00pm. Free. Plaza Arena stage.
Sun 28: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 3:00pm.
Sun 28: King Bees @ The Delaval Arms, Old Hartley NE26 4RL. 5:00pm. Free. Chicago blues at its best!
Sun 28: Matt Anderson Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Anderson (saxophones); Jamil Sheriff (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); Dave Walsh (drums).

Mon 29: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.

Tue 30: Paul Skerritt @ The Rabbit Hole, Hallgarth St., Durham DH1 3AT. 7:00pm. Paul Skerritt's (solo) weekly residency.
Tue 30: Big Chris Barber Band @ Whitley Bay Playhouse. 7:30pm.

Wed 31: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 31: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 31: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:00pm.
Wed 31: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

June
Thu 01: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 01: Thursday Night Prayer Meeting @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Donations.
Thu 01: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Ragtime piano. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.
Thu 01: Jake Leg Jug Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Thu 01: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Fri 02: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 02: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 02: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.
Fri 02: Joseph Carville Trio @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm.
Fri 02: Claire Martin & Her Trio @ The Witham, Barnard Castle. 7:30pm. £25.00., £20.00. Feat. Jim Mullen, Alex Garnett & Jeremy Brown.
Fri 02: Guy Davis + Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. Doors 7:30pm. Blues double bill.
Fri 02: Anders Ingram @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Blind Pig Blues Club. Country blues. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.

Sat 03: Newcastle Record Fair @ Northumbria University, Newcastle NE8 8SB. 10:00am-3:00pm. Admission: £2.00.
Sat 03: Pedigree Jazz Band @ St Augustine's Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm.
Sat 03: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. Tutor: Sue Ferris. £25.00. Enrol at: www.jazz.coop.
Sat 03: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 6:00pm. Free.
Sat 03: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 03: Papa G's Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.

Monday, August 27, 2018

Alan Barnes w. SSBB @ Ushaw, Durham - August 26

It wouldn't be Ushaw without Punch (A.K.A Alan Barnes). The much-travelled sax/clarinet ace covers more miles than Lewis Hamilton, hopefully not quite as fast although, when wielding saxophones large and small, he's well outside the speed limit and should be booked (for next year's festival).
I've heard this genial performer on many occasions but I don't think I've known him to burn quite like he did on baritone last night. 
In keeping with the band's name, he was on fire yet still managed to relax and play some Johnny Hodges' style alto on his own composition Portrait of Belle from his Christmas Suite which he had performed at a previous Ushaw gig.
Of course, it wasn't all Barnes, Alan, we had Barnes, David, blowing a lusty trombone on Ecaroh (hold the title up to the mirror and you'll get a clue as to the composer). Guitarist Pawel also impressed.
Alice Grace looked good and sounded likewise on You Turned the Tables on me; Get Happy; Hear the Moment and It Was a Very Good Year, the latter number done somewhat faster than the norm - it worked although, it has to be said, I think she needed either more mic or less volume from the band.
Having a sax titan as guest soloist meant less time in the spotlight for the other reeds although this was rectified in the penultimate Okay With Jay from the Buddy Rich pad. Which prompts me to suggest, why not a Buddy Rich set from the band at some future date?
Getting back to Okay with Jay - Jay being Jay Craig - solos abounded with Forster making the early running followed by Summers, Gowland, Toms, Ferris and Barnes, A, culminating in what was touted as a 'blistering baritone battle between Alan and Sue. The guest pulled no punches and Sue wouldn't have wanted it any other way. Suffice to say she held her own.
Michael Lamb, as usual, took most of the trumpet solos in between darting back and forth to conduct and compere on those rare occasions when Alan Barnes was lost for words. In the absence of Pete Tanton, Marshall and Stacey were given their moments of glory.
Guy Swinton was featured on the finale/encore, Caravan. Deon Krishnan was solid on bass guitar throughout and dep pianist Mike Bowman, although predominantly kept under wraps, provided the support a soloist needs to prevent him/her straying.
As a matter of (limited) interest, I remembered Mike as a young sax player buying reeds from me when I worked in J.G. Windows. We're now both grey-haired although he has more of it than me!
Nice to see you again Mike.
More photos.
Lance.
PS: I'd also like to add to the plaudits already showered upon Paul Edis who organised the three-day event so efficiently. Bravo Paul!
PPS: Eleven World Premieres over the weekend and counting...
PPS: And a big thank you to Tony Eales for his Jazz Alley - a stunning display of vintage album covers, posters, magazines (some of which I've appropriated!) and general memorabilia.
Alan Barnes (alto/clarinet/baritone) w. Strictly Smokin' Big Band:
Michael Lamb (MD), Billy Bradshaw, Gordon Marshall, Dick Stacey (trumpets); Dan Chimside, Kieran Parnaby, David Barnes, Chris Gray (trombones); Jamie Toms, Paul Gowland, Steve Summers, Matt Forster, Sue Ferris (saxophones);  Pawel Jedrzejewski (guitar); Mike Bowman (piano); Deon Krishnan (bass guitar); Guy Swinton (drums); Alice Grace (vocals).

2 comments :

Alan Smith (on F/b) said...

What a Great Band! (and Alan Barnes is pretty good).

Hugh said...

I love the photo of Alan Barnes' extended baritone with two bells!

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