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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.

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.

Monday, October 15, 2018

Preview: The Middlesbrough Jazz Weekender – October 19-21

(Preview by Russell) 
Forty years ago something remarkable happened in the jazz world. George Wein’s world famous Newport Jazz Festival upped sticks, moving lock, stock and barrel to the unlikely location of Middlesbrough, England. Ayresome Park, then home to the town’s football club, welcomed the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie and the MJQ. In 1978 Andy Hudson was a key figure on the regional jazz scene and it was his crazy idea to invite some of the jazz greats to recreate Newport, Rhode Island, USA in the heart of Teesside’s industrial landscape. Hudson the entrepreneur met with the like-minded New York-based Wein and a deal was done. In summer 1978 Newport came to Middlesbrough!

Fast forward four decades to 2018. It was time to commemorate those never to be forgotten days. The Middlesbrough Jazz Weekender is almost upon us. The newly renovated Town Hall will host a long weekend of some of the best jazz musicians currently working on the regional scene alongside national and international stars. Friday (Oct 19) features Manchester’s dynamic Beats & Pieces Big Band. Formed ten years ago by Ben Cottrell the band has rarely been out of the headlines since. Forward-looking, yet of the tradition, Cottrell’s outfit could be seen as a twenty-first-century trailblazer similar to Chris Barber’s pioneering efforts of the last century.

And something of a masterstroke sees the very same Chris Barber make a return (Saturday 20) to Teesside four decades on from his participation in that ‘Newport comes to Middlesbrough’ dream world. Octogenarian Barber’s touring schedule - he’s booking into 2019! - would test the resilience of some whippersnappers with their three or four gigs a month itinerary. Barber’s top class band won’t be taking things easy as the bandleader will play until someone puts the lights out!

Earlier on Saturday, the National Youth Jazz Orchestra will perform a programme, much of it commissioned, in the Main Hall. NYJO is the other band, like Barber’s, returning to the scene of its 1978 ‘Newport’ engagement.  A then young trumpet player, Guy Barker (!), has done alright since and this is an opportunity to spot a future star from today’s line-up. Joining NYJO will be the recently reformed Tees Valley Youth Big Band. NYJO will celebrate the contribution of women in jazz; a world premiere performance of Nikki Iles’ new commission for the band, and the arrangement by Laura Jurd of Mary-Lou William’s Zodiac Suite. Trumpeter Jurd performs in a late night concert (10pm) with her band Dinosaur.

Sunday (Oct 11) dawns early (11am) with Zoë Gilby’s Family Jazz All-Stars. The concert is designed to captivate the youngest of listeners (ages 5+) although all (there isn’t an upper age limit!) are welcome to attend. From 2pm in the Crypt there are no fewer than four bands to listen to; American singer Hailey Tuck, the Teesside-based trumpeter Noel Dennis revisiting his Tom Harrell ‘Aurora’ show, pianist Paul Edis’ widely-praised Ushaw Ensemble and Printmakers, an amazing grouping of Nikki Iles, piano, Norma Winstone, voice, Mark Lockheart, saxophone, guitarist Mike Walker and the bass and drums pairing of Steve Watts and James Maddren. Throughout the weekend there will be other first-rate performances. At various times expect to hear, among others, Emma Fisk, James Birkett and Roly Veitch.

The first Middlesbrough Jazz Weekender closes (Sunday, Oct 11, 7:30pm) with an appearance by one of the world’s great big bands. All the way from New York via a week-long run at Ronnie Scott’s…it’s the Mingus Big Band! Talk about big hitters… this is the band to hear! Call the box office now on 01642 729729.   
Russell                           

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