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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

17630 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 904 of them this year alone and, so far, 49 this month (Dec. 20).

From This Moment On ...

December

Sun 22: Hot Club du Nord @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £15.00. + bf. Xmas party. SOLD OUT!
Sun 22: Red Kites Jazz @ Gibside Chapel, nr. Rowlands Gill. 1:00pm. Admission charge applies.
Sun 22: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 22: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: Revolutionaires @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Superb rhythm & blues outfit.
Sun 22: Laurence Harrison, Paul Grainger & Mark Robertson @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 22: The Globe Xmas Party @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Live music (musicians TBC).
Sun 22: Ray Stubbs R & B All-Stars @ Zerox, Sandhill, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors).

Mon 23: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Wheatsheaf, Benton Sq., Whitley Road, Palmersville NE12 9SU. Tel: 0191 266 8137. 1:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Mon 23: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 4:00pm. Free.
Mon 23: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Mon 23: Milne-Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.

Tue 24: Lindsay Hannon & Mark Williams @ Ernest, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 11:00am-1:00pm. Free.
Tue 24: Paul Skerritt @ Mambo Wine & Dine, South Shields. 1:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.

Wed 25: Wot? No jazz!

Thu 26: The Boneshakers @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. The 17th annual Boneshakers’ Shindig.

Fri 27: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free. Business as usual!.
Fri 27: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 27: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

Sat 28: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 11:30am. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 28: Fri 20: Castillo Nuevo @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Sat 28: Jude Murphy, Rich Herdman & Giles Strong @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 28: Ray Stubbs R & B All-Stars @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Stepney Bank, Newcastle. 9:00pm. 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, February 13, 2019

Alina Bzhezhinska Quartet @ Gosforth Civic Theatre - February 9

Alina Bzhezhinska (harp); Toni Kofi (soprano/tenor sax); Larry Bartley (bass); Joel Prime (drums/percussion)
(Review/photos by Ken Drew

 Given the recent reviews of the quartet’s current national tour, expectation was high for this, the first co-promotion between Jazz North East and Gosforth Civic Theatre. Originally from Ukraine/Poland and now based in London, Alina Bzhezhinska is an internationally renowned harpist and her critically acclaimed Quartet was formed two years ago to celebrate Alice Coltrane's 80th Birthday, performing at the EFG London Jazz Festival 2017 with 'A Concert for Alice and John'. 

It was great to see this quartet on the road.   A decent sized audience provided a good start to help fill the theatre space and hence a good atmosphere with the band performing on stage, although it would have been equally acceptable for them to perform on the main floor as is sometimes the case at GCT. Still, the sound was clear and well balanced, providing a good space for the performers.


The music started with the floating and meditative sounds of Wisdom Eye, a short Alice Coltrane piece, ending with a series of plucked harmonics before moving nicely into Blue Nile which was instantly recognisable.  Bzhezhinska energetically strumming and plucking the harp strings with Kofi adding an emphatic voice on soprano sax, with a strong pounding beat from Bartley and Prime. This set the tone for the rest of the evening or rather whetted an appetite hungry for more of the same.  Then from Eternity came  Los Caballos  (Horses)  with a catchy riff and changing tempo,  featuring Prime in the intro and later with an extended solo. 

On to two of Bzhezhinska’s compositions - Hope with harp, Kofi on sop, and Prime on percussion. Very soporific, followed by Another Semitone with harp, bass and percussion. 

Set 1 ended with Alice Coltrane’s Fire.   Bzhezhinska was busy throughout, save for an extended solo from Bartley, providing a rich mix of timbres from the harp, whilst Kofi provided a strong lead on tenor. Quite an energetic piece!    Then it was time for a rest, to let the brilliance of the music and the playing soak in.

Set 2 began with  Message from the Nile (Tyner) followed by a less ‘arranged’ piece of her own incorporating some free improvisation – Following a Lovely Sky Boat with an extended solo from Kofi on sop.  Then another by Bzhezhinska, Winter Moods with harp, bass and percussion. Quite atmospheric, evoking the feelings around dark winter moods.  This was followed by a tune with Ukraine/Polish roots - Lamki  (a Tribe) which is dedicated to those who were driven from their homeland and not allowed to return. A very moody intro, progressively taking on various rhythms throughout, mournful and slightly haunting in places, ending quietly with a windswept and barren feel.  A tribute piece to John Coltrane followed - After The Rain with Kofi playing superbly on tenor and  Bzhezhinska ending the piece beautifully with perfectly placed harmonics from the middle strings.

The final piece was the classic  Journey In Satchidananda  with a bass, harp and percussion intro then Kofi on sop with another extended solo, along with sweeping and swirling harp strings. Bartley providing a solid beat throughout, often with heavily plucked strings to great effect. The melody and interpretation by Kofi was just wonderful!     Then an encore, based on Alice Coltrane’s a prayer Er ra  (originally sung with harp, unaccompanied). Here Kofi took the part of Coltrane's singing through his clear-voiced soprano, alongside Bzhezhinska ’s busy yet meditative swirling strings.  Bartley with bowed bass and Prime providing subtle backing on cymbals to provide a slowly developing crescendo to the piece.

Overall, this was a wonderful tribute to Alice Coltrane’s legacy. Bzhezhinska’s playing was, to my eyes and ears, virtuosic. And with so few jazz harpists around, it was a delight to see and hear what a harp can bring to a jazz stage, where the quartet took the audience on quite a musical journey with impeccable playing, producing a rather unique soundscape.   What a fabulous evening of superbly delivered live jazz and the Allendale (on tap) was in particularly fine condition too.
Ken

Check out the CD !   Alina's new album  Inspiration was released to high critical acclaim in June 2018 through Ubuntu Music - see  Bebop Spoken Here’s review.

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