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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.

Saturday, October 06, 2018

George Sykes & Friends @ Prohibition Bar - October 5

George Sykes Quartet: George Sykes (tenor saxophone); Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass, bass guitar); Joe Shaw (drums) + Julija Jacenaite (vocals); Jason Holcomb (trombone); Holly Sykes (trumpet); Craig Irving (guitar)
(Review by Russell)
George Sykes and Friends…exactly as anticipated a ‘friendly’ gathering of friends, acquaintances old and new. Tenor saxophonist George Sykes has made quite an impact on the local scene sitting-in around town, standing toe-to-toe with the north east’s big hitters. A ready smile, appreciative of his fellow musicians, a nice bloke, that’s Newcastle University student Sykes.    

‘Spillett tempo’, the first scribbled note. No messing around, straight in with a super-fast Devil May Care. We got the Harry Warren chart, Johnny Burke’s lyrics were for another time. Matching Sykes all the way were pianist Alan Law, double bass man Paul Grainger and a new face, Joe Shaw, drums. Sykes and Shaw go back to their days on the Leicestershire proving ground of the youth big band scene. Shaw is yet another medic (there’s something about medicine and music, ostensibly an unlikely meeting of arts and sciences) more than capable of playing jazz to a high standard.
A Dizzying Night in Tunisia maintained the feverish tempo until JJ walked in. Julija Jacenaite hadn’t been sighted for some time and within minutes she had joined the boys for a slow take on All of Me. Slow that is, for the first verse, then a snap of her fingers and we were off again at a lick.   

High octane playing is thrilling stuff, that’s for sure, but it was Sykes who produced something unexpected, something rather special, with a heart-felt tribute to the late Barrie ‘Baz’ Ascroft. Out tenor man spoke warmly of Barrie’s supportive, welcoming demeanour at Dave Weisser’s Take it to the Bridge jazz workshop. Alan Law knew Barrie well and he too remembered the good times. In a Sentimental Mood was for Barrie. A memorable moment.

Blue Bossa, Shaw handling the Latin rhythms with ease, Law in his element, it was time to introduce one or two guests. For one number only (he didn’t hang around),  suited and booted in regulation Friday evening ‘function gig’ apparel, step forward, Jason Holcomb. The globe-trotting American trombonist is heard rarely on the jazz scene but when he is around, it’s worth the wait. There Will Never Be Another You (more Harry Warren) featured Holcomb’s cast iron trombone playing alongside the vocals of the returning Jacenaite. And he was gone. A new name to note is that of guitarist Craig Irving, featured this evening on Cantaloupe Island  Craig is another friend of George. Let’s hear Craig and drummer Joe sitting-in at jam sessions!

It was gone eleven and almost time to go but, but…George invited his ‘little sister’ Holly Sykes to join the party on Sunny Side of the Street! Holly plays trumpet. Big brother George insisted she stay on for the closer. When the Saints went down a treat as big brother George encouraged Holly to play another chorus. Great stuff. The place went nuts!  
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Alice Grace Trio: Alice Grace (vocals); Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass) 

Earlier in the evening Alice Grace sang. A guest of Sykes, Ms Grace, a top drawer attraction in her own right was playing a first gig with Alan Law. On the evidence of this evening’s performance , supported by the redoubtable Paul Grainger, it would come as little surprise if further gigs were to be listed on Bebop Spoken Here.     

Ms Grace suggested she felt a little nervous in such an intimate setting without the security blanket of a roaring big band behind her. Ah, we know better, don’t we? An opening But Not for Me through to Blue Skies and on to As Time Goes By, this was  nothing other than a vocal masterclass. It Could Happen to You (comp. Jimmy Van Heusen, lyrics Johnny  Burke), on this occasion including Johnny Burke’s lyrics, the scatting Ms Grace held Prohibition Bar’s audience in the palm of her hand. One Note Samba (the tune with more than one note!), then a favourite tune  of pianist Alan Law – Bye Bye Blackbird. As a support set how lucky were we? Alice Grace is a headline act, anywhere, anytime.    
Russell      

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