Total Pageviews

Bebop Spoken There

Ambrose Akinmusire: “ I am certainly always aware of what the masses are doing. And when I see too many people going one way, I'm going another way - even when I don't know what's over that way". DownBeat, March, 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

Tue 19: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Tim Johnston.

Wed 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 20: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 20: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 21: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 21: Castillo Neuvo Trio + Conor Emery & His ‘Bones Band @ The Grove, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £10.00. (£7.00. student).
Thu 21: Remi Banklyn + Chris Corcoran Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.50. Chicago blues. An International Guitar Foundation promotion.
Thu 21: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Ragtime piano.
Thu 21: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 22: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 22: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 22: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 22: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 22: Nauta + Remy CB + Last Orders @ Hoochie Coochie, Newcastle. 8:30pm (7:30pm doors). Free.
Fri 22: Vasilis Xenopoulos-Paul Edis Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £15.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 22: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 23: Jambone @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Free (ticketed). End of term performance in the Northern Rock Foundation Hall.
Sat 23: Milne-Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 23: Red Kites Jazz @ Rowlands Gill Community Centre NE39 1JB. 7:00pm. Tickets: £12.00. (gibsidecommunityfarm@gmail.com). A ‘Build a Barn’ fundraiser. BYOB, tea/coffee available.
Sat 23: New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00. + bf (book in person at venue - no booking fee!). Featuring pianist Martin Litton.
Sat 23: Pete Tanton’s Cuba Libre @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 24: Musicians Unlimited @ Park Inn, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 24: Luis Verde @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. Verde (alto sax); Joe Steels (guitar); John Pope (double bass); John Hirst (drums). Alto sax brilliance!
Sun 24: Elsie Franklin @ The Globe, Newcastle. 3:00pm. £10.00. Country blues. An International Guitar Foundation promotion.
Sun 24: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay Metro Station. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: Las Vegas Live with the Rat Pack @ The Forum, Billingham.
Sun 24: Ian Millar & Dominic Spencer @ Otterburn Memorial Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Sun 24: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Note start time - 7:00pm.
Sun 24: Bold Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 25: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Friday, November 16, 2018

Alan Glen Trio @ The Globe Jazz Bar - Nov. 15

Alan Glen (piano); John Pope (bass); Paul Wight (drums).
(Review by Lance).
The choice lay between Alan Glen at the Globe or James Harrison and Paul Skerritt at the Black Swan. The undefeated champion or his number one contender?
It was a tough call but, having heard James the previous night at Jesmond, I opted to catch one of the all too rare appearances by the old master.

It nearly didn't happen, apart from aggravating a pulled hamstring as I ran for the bus, all was not well with the Yamaha piano at the Jazz Coop HQ. A note that, without warning, trebled in volume gave our pianist cause for concern - just as well Keith Jarrett wasn't doing the gig.  Nevertheless, trooper that he is, the keyboard king bravely soldiered on to give an outstanding performance that thrilled the gathered worshippers.


Paul Wight too had problems in the form of a knackered bass drum pedal. Fortunately, a replacement was at hand. All that remained now was for John Pope to snap a string. 
He didn't! Instead, he gave a performance that befitted his position as an in-demand bass player.

The music.
If I Should Lose You (perish the thought Alan) followed by Time After Time. Earlier in the day, by coincidence, Liz in York had sent me a YouTube shot of Chet Baker singing the very same. We both agreed it was one of the classiest songs ever and, even without Chet's wistful vocal, Alan's version was, despite the malfunctioning middle G, equally, pardon the pun, timeless.
Love is a Many Splendoured Thing; That's All; Yardbird Suite; Love Letters; Night Shade (Glen original) and Love For Sale saw the first set out.

Glasses recharged, it was back to the street - On Green Dolphin St. to be precise. A swinging version followed by the gentle lilt of I Thought About You and the romanticism of I'll Close My Eyes and When I Fall in Love. John Pope's arco bass solo on the latter number hit the spot.

An original, Waltz For A.C. Who or what A.C. represents wasn't explained. All of You wallowed in some luxuriant chording before the final number - Cherokee. They don't come much better - or faster - than this one driven on relentlessly by drummer Wight.
A boppish encore sent everyone home happy - it had been quite a night.
Lance.

1 comment :

Patti said...

Yes - this was an ace gig - and a wonderful play list. As Lance says, the closing number was Cherokee - it's always a bit of a barnstormer - a flag waver, as some say. It's interesting to think about Ray Noble's earlier compositions as comparison - the gorgeously sweet melodies of The Very Thought Of You and Goodnight Sweetheart.

Blog Archive