Total Pageviews

Bebop Spoken There

Marcella Puppini (in concert with the Puppini Sisters at Sunderland Fire Station, November 27, 2024): ''We've never played there, but we've looked it up, and it looks amazing.''. (The Northern Echo, November 21, 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

17562 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 836 of them this year alone and, so far, 74 this month (Nov. 22).

From This Moment On ...

November

Sat 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Spanish City, Whitley Bay. 11:00-1:00pm. £6.00. at the door, £4.00. advance. Tel: 0191 691 7090. A Spanish City ‘Xmas Market’ event in the Champagne Bar.
Sat 23: Durham Alumni Big Band @ Number One Bar, Skinnergate, Darlington. 11:00am-12:30pm. Free (donations, fill up the bucket!) CANCELLED!
Sat 23: Washboard Resonators @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm. £12.00.
Sat 23: Paul Skerritt Big Band @ Westovian Theatre, South Shields. 7:30pm.

Sun 24: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Spanish City, Whitley Bay. 11:00-1:00pm. £6.00. at the door, £4.00. advance. Tel: 0191 691 7090. A Spanish City ‘Xmas Market’ event in the Champagne Bar.
Sun 24: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Skerritt (solo) performing with backing tapes.
Sun 24: Greg Abate w. Dean Stockdale Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 24: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: Washboard Resonators @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. £8.00.
Sun 24: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: Groovetrain @ Hoochie Coochie, Newcastle. £15.00. + bf. 5:15pm (4:00pm doors). SOLD OUT!
Sun 24: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 24: Greg Abate w. Dean Stockdale Trio @ The Globe. 8:00pm.
Sun 24: Lighthouse Trio @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Mon 25: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 25: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Wheatsheaf, Benton Sq., Whitley Road, Palmersville NE12 9SU. Tel: 0191 266 8137. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 26: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £12.00.; £10.00. advance.

Wed 27: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 27: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:00-7:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Wed 27: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 27: Puppini Sisters @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.
Wed 27: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 28: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 28: Paul Skerritt @ Ashington High Street. 5:45pm. Xmas lights switch-on.
Thu 28: Mick Cantwell Band @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb blues singer!
Thu 28: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesborough. 8:30pm. Free. Guests: Richie Emmerson (tenor sax); Dan Johnson (alto sax); Graham Thompson (keys); Adrian Beadnell (bass)

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

Thursday, September 27, 2018

Jazz at the Village Hall 20th Anniversary @ Springwell Village Community Venue - September 26

Twenty years at one venue. The principals - Dave and Mac Rae - have presented jazz in Springwell during good times and not so good times. Last night was one of the good times. A full house with extra seating requisitioned from an adjoining hall, the house band, led by Dave Rae, played not one, not two, but three sets, the latter featuring several guests 'sitting-in'. 

Down the years, Dave and Mac have kept the New Orleans' flag flying when others, elsewhere, raised the white flag against seemingly insurmountable odds. If you want to hear Crescent City jazz, spirituals and perhaps a blues, then Springwell Village Community Venue, Wednesdays, is the place to be. The Bacons - that's Liz (clarinet) and drummer Paul - are key members of the band, as is tailgater Jim Blenkin. 
Jazz and hymnals in the right hands make for a potent mix; Red Wing and Dr Jazz to ShineWe Shall Walk Through the Streets of the City and Just a Little While to Stay Here to a late night, nine-piece take on Just Over in the Glory Land, this Wednesday evening was a joy from beginning to end. Dave Rae led the ensemble, a classy banjo player, a fine vocalist, restraint the key, never one to hog the limelight. 

The band is all about the New Awlins' ensemble sound. Clarinetist Bacon plays the melody as 'bone man Blenkin weaves in and out of the action, likewise bandleader Rae chips in with an occasional vocal. Paul Bacon's approach encapsulates the art of New Orleans' drumming, his style remarkably minimalist, many a drummer would do well to check out P. Bacon and his engine room buddy Mr. Imperturbable, aka string bass player John Robinson. 

The evening's guests didn't outstay their welcome. Mac Rae first sat-in on trumpet, grabbing a vocal, later to return on drums. Classic Swing's Bob Wade joined the party and those hearing the trumpeter for the first time were more than impressed. And to top it all Wade picked up his liquorice stick making it a two-clarinet frontline with Liz B on Creole Love Call - one of the highlights, no question about it.

A mammoth buffet (see photo) and a multi-prize raffle occupied minds during the interval. Guests continued to arrive and it wasn't long before the second set, followed by a third, got underway. Pete Jezzard, founder member of the Stockton on Tees-based New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band, sat-in. The contrasting styles of Blenkin, Jezzard and the Maine Street Jazzmen's Herbie Hudson made for a fun-filled trombonium. 

Dave Rae switched to a back-seat guitar role upon the arrival of the Vieux Carré Jazzmen's Brian Bennett. Olive Rudd sang Baby Face, Mac Rae (definitely not a baby face!) sang The Alcoholic Blues - another of the evening's high points. It's twenty years not out, the next twenty will fly by, jazz in Springwell is very much alive and kicking!   
Russell.    
Jazz at the Village Hall 20th Anniversary Band: Liz Bacon (clarinet); Jim Blenkin (trombone, vocals); Dave Rae (banjo, guitar, vocals); John Robinson (double bass); Paul Bacon (drums) + Mac Rae (trumpet, drums, vocals); Bob Wade (trumpet, clarinet); Herbie Hudson (trombone, harmonica); Olive Rudd (vocals); Brian Bennett (banjo); Pete Jezzard (trombone).
Picture below is from Dave Rae.     

1 comment :

Dave Rae said...

Russell, thank you very much for your lovely write-up about our 20-year celebration party at Springwell Village Hall.

So many of the old band members no longer with us. Time has passed so quickly, it really is hard to believe!

Kind regards, Dave

Blog Archive