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Bebop Spoken There

Simon Spillett: “ Bebop and hard bop came naturally to him [Tubby Hayes]". Morning Star, March 28, 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

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.
Fri 29: True Colours @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 9:00pm. Blues, jazz & swing.

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.
Mon 01: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 3:00pm. 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.

Thu 04: FILM: Soul @ Forum Cinema, Hexham. 2:00pm. Jazz-themed film animation.
Thu 04: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 04: Funky Drummer @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 04: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 04: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Saturday, February 02, 2019

CD Review: Nick Hempton - Night Owl

Nick Hempton (saxes); Peter Bernstein (guitar); Kyle Koehler (Hammond B3); Fukushi Tainaka (drums).
(Review by Lance).

Recorded direct to tape at GB's Juke Joint in NYC on May 2 last year this does what the title implies - an imaginary walk on the wild side via the bars and clubs, the all-nighters, the shuffles and the boogaloos that have been the soundtrack of the city since the heyday of Lou Donaldson, Jimmy Smith, Brother Jack, Stanley Turrentine and many other legendary groove merchants.

Nick Hempton can hold his own in that exalted company. Gutsy tenor, soaring alto, six original compositions as well as individual takes on three gassers - After You've Gone bears comparison with Art Pepper, Sonny Stitt and other great alto players - whilst I'm a Fool to Want You has just enough edge to it cut it in any juke joint as this Long Island studio recording proves.

Apart from the occasional bravura flourish, this is meaningful playing. Like Dexter Gordon, Hempton makes every note count, and there are plenty of them. Bernstein is with him every inch of the way with his own solos matching those of the bossman. Bernstein is a fave of our boy Francis Tulip and I can see why. Koehler doesn't attack the B3 like so many organ grinders instead he caresses it with fingers and feet making the most of the many combinations of sound available. No need for a bassman when this guy's pedalling. On drums, Tainaka is discreet when discretion is called for and upfront when the heat is on. He's like the blast of air that lifted Monroe's skirt when she stood over the grating on the corner of Lexington & 52nd in the film The Seven Year Itch.

I thought I'd heard all the great Ellington ballads and now, maybe I have! It Shouldn't Happen to a Dream was recorded by "The Divine One" on her album Sarah Vaughan in Hi-Fi and featured Cannonball Adderley. This version may not have Sassy or Cannon but the four guys it does have more than make up for it - one of the all-time classic ballad performances.

Listen Hard, Speak Easy puts the boot in. Down home, greasy spoon, JD on the rocks, eggs over easy all visions that came to me as I lay in bed with the lights off imagining I was in a dive somewhere downtown. I may never get to New York again but, with this album, I'm halfway there.
Lance.
Night Owl; I Remember Milady's; After You've Gone; I'm a Fool to Want You; 10th St. Turnaround; Corner Bistro; It Shouldn't Happen to a Dream; Listen Hard, Speak Easy; Macao Mood.

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