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Bebop Spoken There

Kurt Elling: ''There's something to learn from every musician you play with''. (DownBeat, December 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

17586 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 860 of them this year alone and, so far, 5 this month (Dec. 2).

From This Moment On ...

December

Wed 11: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Cath Stephens’ improvisation workshop @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 4:30-6:00pm. Collaborative group focusing on vocal improvisations.
Wed 11: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 11: The Tannery Jam Session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Second Wednesday in the month.
Wed 11: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 12: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Spanish City, Whitley Bay. 12 noon. £27.00. (inc. three -course meal).
Thu 12: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:00-6:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Thu 12: Stuart Turner @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 12: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesborough. 8:30pm. Free. Guests: Jeremy McMurray (keys); Mark Toomey (alto sax); Donna Hewitt (tenor sax); Kevin Eland (trumpet); Ron Smith (bass).

Fri 13: Dean Stockdale Trio @ Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 13: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Bellavana @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 3:00-5:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Joe Steels Trio @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Customs House Big Band @ Stocksfield Community Association. 7:00pm. Featuring Ruth Lambert.
Fri 13: Paul Edis & Friends: A Jazzy Xmas @ St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook. 7:30pm. £15.00.
Fri 13: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £19.00. + bf. First night of two.
Fri 13: Ransom Van @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 13: Boys of Brass @ Hoochie Coochie, Newcastle. 9:00pm. £10.00.

Sat 14: Jambone @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:15pm. Free but ticketed.
Sat 14: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm.
Sat 14: Red Kites Jazz @ Staiths Café, Autumn Dr., Gateshead. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 14 Lapwing Jazz Trio @ Three Sheets to the Wind, Alnwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 14: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £19.00. + bf. Second night of two.
Sat 14: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 15: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 12 noon. £8.50. Xmas party feat. Musicians Unlimited + Customs House Big Band. SOLD OUT!
Sun 15: Paul Edis & Friends: A Jazzy Xmas @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 2:00pm.
Sun 15: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Mitch Laddie Band @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Superb blues power trio.
Sun 15: Leeway @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 15: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Paul Edis & Friends: A Jazzy Xmas @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.
Sun 15: Alligator Gumbo @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 16: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 16: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Wheatsheaf, Benton Sq., Whitley Road, Palmersville NE12 9SU. Tel: 0191 266 8137. 12 noon. £9.95. ‘Festive Turkey Dinner’. Book now: 0191 266 8137.
Mon 16: Paul Edis & Friends: A Jazzy Xmas @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.

Tue 17: Paul Edis & Friends: A Jazzy Xmas @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.
Tue 17: BBC Big Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. ‘A Swinging Xmas’.
Tue 17: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.
Tue 17: Bellavana @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 7:45-9:35pm. Free.

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

Wednesday, October 03, 2018

CD Review: Flying Machines – New Life

Alex Munk (guitar, vocals); Matt Robinson (piano, synths, Fender Rhodes); Conor Chaplin (electric bass); Dave Hamblett (drums).
(Review by Hugh C)
New Life is the second release from this London based band, their first, critically acclaimed, eponymous album having been issued in 2016.  New Life continues their trademark fusion of contemporary jazz with progressive rock.  This album continues their exploration with a mix of expansive through-composed material morphing into and out of group improvisation.

The first and title track, New Life, is a wake-up call with crashing guitar licks from Munk, worthy of any ‘70s stadium gig.  I suspect many a man (and the occasional woman) of a certain age will instantly begin to demonstrate their skills on an imaginary “axe” on hearing this track.  The main man is ably supported by the rhythm section to maintain momentum.   As the music decrescendos toward the final chord one fully expects a massive roar from the audience – but this is a studio recording.  Blink is improvised and again features fast licks on electric guitar with a great supporting bass line from Conor Chaplin – it ends all too quickly (a mere 51 seconds!).

Moondust has a less frenzied, more relaxed vibe.  Guitar is again to the fore, but much more of a jazz style with supporting harmony from Matt Robinson on keys and Conor Chaplin on bass.
Prelude to Elation starts with acoustic guitar and gentle accompanying wordless vocals, gently driven by Dave Hamblett on brushes.  This provides a short lead-in to Elation, a more substantial number and the longest on the album.  Solo guitar again commences this track with the gradual addition of other instruments.  An interesting mixture of tempi demonstrates Hamblett’s percussive skills and more expansive piano passages allow Robinson to stretch out.  Neat fretwork by Chaplin on bass is contributory to the overall sonic package – probably my favourite track on the album.

The fully improvised Standing Still commences with abstract guitar chords, synths and a gentle repetitive bass motif redolent of 20th-century space movies and best listened to while regarding Gabe Shaughnessy’s splendid pictures of the Veil Nebula which adorn the CD cover.  Kilter starts with solo guitar, over bass in a simple melody joined by piano and drums at a relaxed pace.  This track has the nearest thing to a bass solo, demonstrating Chaplin’s mastery of the instrument in a melodic style.

Fall In picks up the tempo again with Munk’s electric guitar in the ascendant, but with significant melodic contribution from bass and keys all driven by Hamblett’s powerhouse drumming.  In the centre there is a quieter interlude featuring Robinson on Fender Rhodes.  Bullet Train is the third entirely improvised track (no pun intended) and does bring to mind an image of a speeding locomotive followed by a gleaming string of carriages.  The music disaggregates towards the end (which is slightly unnerving in the context!) and segues into Take Time.  This final track slowly builds from atmospheric guitar chords over a simple drum beat and gradually gains more complexity with the addition of piano and bass. 

My initial reaction on playing the disc for the first time was – this isn’t Jazz!  Well, some of it probably isn’t, even by the most liberal interpretation of the word, but a significant part of the material on this CD is.  The jazz component and the remainder (progressive rock according to the record company press material) are both expertly crafted and skillfully delivered MUSIC, which is after all, what matters!

New Life is to be released by Ubuntu (UBU00017) on Friday 19 October 2018.  The launch is at Pizza Express in Soho on Monday 22 October.  I think this would sound great in a live setting – an opportunity exists to catch Flying Machines at the EFG London Jazz Festival on 25 November and then on tour in 2019*.
Hugh C.

* Tour dates.
            15 March – Birmingham Jazzlines
            25 March  - The Whisky Jar, Manchester
            29 March – Wakefield Jazz
            5 April – Derby Jazz
            25 April – The Blue Lamp, Aberdeen
            26 April – Edinburgh Jazz Bar
            7 May – St. Ives Jazz Club
            19 September – The Spin, Oxford
            23 October – The Lescar, Sheffield

Space in there for another NE gig perhaps? 
(Performed at Jazz Café February 2017)

1 comment :

Anonymous said...

Interesting to read Steve H's review of the 2017 Jazz Cafe gig.

The band is apparently named after Munk's father, Roger's career as an expert and world leader in the field of lighter than air technology. The company that he founded, HAV, are now flight testing the world's largest air vehicle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=6&v=n21nJIy3dlg

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