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Bebop Spoken There

Billy Boy Arnold: “As long as you don't think old you're good.” - DownBeat, December, 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!"

Simon Spillett: A lovely review from the dean of jazz bloggers, Lance Liddle...

Postage

16051 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 1058 of them this year alone and, so far, 12 this month (Dec. 6).

From This Moment On ...

December

Sat 09: Prudhoe Community Band @ Central Station, Newcastle. 10:00am - 12 noon. Charity fundraiser.
Sat 09: Durham Alumni Big Band @ Number One Bar, Skinnergate, Darlington. 1:00pm.
Sat 09: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Sat 09: Hayley's Little Big Band @ Middleton & Todridge Village Hall, Morpeth. 7:30pm. £12.00., £6.00.
Sat 09: Paul Skerritt @ Slaley Hall, Hexham NE47 0BX. 7:30pm. From £42.00.

Sun 10: Musicians Unlimited’s Xmas Party with Zoë Gilby Quartet @ Park Inn, Hartlepool. MU 1:00-3:00pm; Zoë Gilby Quartet 4:00-6:00pm. Tickets: £7.50.
Sun 10: Alan Law, Paul Grainger & Abbie Finn @ Darlington Market, Market Square, Darlington. 1:00pm. Free. A ‘Christmas Market’ outdoor gig. Wrap up warm!
Sun 10: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00-4:00pm. Free.
Sun 10: Funk Soul Sista @ Stack, Seaburn. 5:00-7:00pm. Free.
Sun 10: Beth Clarke @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 10: Hayley's Little Big Band @ Whittingham Memorial Institute, Alnwick. 7:30pm. £12.00., £10.00.
Sun 10: Tele-Port @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Line-up inc. Zhenya Strigalev.

Mon 11: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 11: Interim Final Recitals @ Newcastle University. Details TBC.

Tue 12: Stu Collingwood Organ Trio @ Forum Music Centre, Darlington. 7:00pm. £10.00.

Wed 13: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 13: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 13: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 13: Bold Big Band @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm.
Wed 13: Giles Strong Quartet @ Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thu 14: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 14: Hot Fingers @ The Lubetkin Theatre, Peterlee. 7:00pm. £10.00.
Thu 14: After Hours Student Jazz Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 14: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. . Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 14: Niffi Osiyemi Trio @ Harbour View, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 14: Mo Scott ‘Little Mo’s Festive Appearance’ @ The Schooner, Gateshead. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 14: Tees Hot Club w. Kevin Eland, Josh Bentham, Garry Hadfield, Adrian Beadnell @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Fri 15: Paul Edis @ Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 15: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 15: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 15: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 15: Paul Skerritt @ Black Horse Inn, Crook. From 7:00pm.
Fri 15: Paul Edis: A Jazzy Christmas @ St Cuhtbert's Centre, Crook. 7:30pm. £15.00. SOLD OUT! Waiting list open.
Fri 15: Zoë Gilby Trio @ Seventeen Nineteen, Hendon, Sunderland. 7:30pm. £12.00. Fri 15: Strictly Smokin' Big Band @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 8:00pm. First night of two.
Fri 15: Darlington Big Band @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £10.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 15: Baghdaddies @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00.; £10.00.

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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