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Bebop Spoken There

Béla Fleck: “ And that's the great thing about live performances, you take people on a journey. It doesn't have to be like something else they've heard. It's not supposed to be". DownBeat, April, 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

16287 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 169 of them this year alone and, so far, 41 this month (Mar 18).

From This Moment On ...

March

Thu 28: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 28: Gateshead Jazz Appreciation Society @ Gateshead Central Library, Gateshead. 2:30pm.
Thu 28: Richard Herdman Quartet @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 28: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Guests: Josh Bentham (alto sax); Alan Marshall (tenor sax); Neil Brodie (trumpet); Adrian Beadnell (bass); Graham Thompson (keys); Steve Hunter (drums).

Fri 29: FILM: Soul @ The Forum Cinema, Hexham. 12:30pm. Jazz-themed film animation.
Fri 29: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 29: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 29: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 29: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 6:00pm. Free. POSTPONED!
Fri 29: Thundercat @ Newcastle City Hall.
Fri 29: John Logan @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 30: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 30: Pete Tanton’s Cuba Libre @ Whitley Bay Library, York Road, Whitley Bay. 8:00pm.

Sun 31: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay Metro Station. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 31: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields NE30 1HJ. 3:00pm. Free. Lambert, Alan Law & Paul Grainger.
Sun 31: Sid Jacobs & Tom Remon @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. USA/London jazz guitar duo.
Sun 31: Bellavana @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

April
Mon 01: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 01: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 3:00pm. Free.

Tue 02: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Dean Stockdale, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 03: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 03: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 03: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Alan Law Trio w James Birkett @ Blaydon Jazz Club - September 16

Alan Law (piano); James Birkett (guitar); Paul Grainger (bass); Russ Morgan (drums).
(Review by Russell/photos courtesy of Roly V).

A second set only review. An advance ticket purchase dictated your correspondent's early evening whereabouts - Polly Gibbon's gig with the Strictly Smokin' Big Band at Hoochie Coochie - resulting in a late arrival at the Black Bull. 

Blaydon Jazz Club's September concert presented the Alan Law Trio working with a much-loved friend of Blaydon, master guitarist James Birkett. Arriving in time to hear the final number of the first set - Lady Be Good - it was good to see a good number of folk had made the effort and, encouragingly, a few new faces. Hey, Lady be Good, a cookin' rhythm section with Birkett flying, a pretty good way to tune out of roaring big band mode and adjust to a small combo. 

The interval: a Deuchars, please. A raffle ticket, the usual outcome...
Second set: Lulu's Back in Town for starters, Blue Bossa* then a timeless ballad - I Fall in Love Too Easily. Pianist Alan Law plays, as they say, with a feelin'. Finding a way, choosing a chord, liking a phrase, Law's solos develop out of seemingly very little, the nurturing of an idea. And the man to take it on, Dr.

James Birkett, did just that. The boys at the back, Paul Grainger sounding better than ever, and in-demand drummer Russ Morgan, made incisive contributions, a compatible quartet if ever there was one. 

And that was about it but not before they jumped aboard an A Train. Next month - Sunday, October 19 - James Birkett returns to play a gig with fellow guitarist Bradley Johnston. If you love jazz guitar don't miss this one.
Blaydon photos. 
Russell.
In introducing Blue Bossa Alan Law said it was the first jazz tune he learned to play properly. In so doing Law inadvertently stumbled upon as good an answer as any to the question: What is jazz? Hopefully, you can play the tune as well as you hum it walking along the street 

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