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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.
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.

Friday, February 01, 2019

Paul Edis Trio: A Brief History of Jazz Piano @ The Gala Theatre, Durham - Feb 1

Paul Edis (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); Russ Morgan (drums)
(Review by Russell)

The Gala Theatre's monthly lunchtime jazz concert series is a remarkable success story. Invariably there is a capacity audience - concerts often sell out weeks in advance* - and February's offering wasn't about to buck the trend. The first appreciable snowfall of winter failed to deter the Durham faithful and at the appointed start time of one o'clock, the second-floor studio space was full to overflowing. 

The Paul Edis Trio is a major draw anywhere, anytime and when the 'Brief History of Jazz Piano' forms the setlist it's a must-get-to occasion. Pianist Edis devised his potted history of the instrument and its famed practitioners a couple of years ago and the relatively few performances since have been nothing short of triumphant. 


Whiskers opened the programme; a fabulous tune, stellar playing. A first scribbled note read: They're swinging the arse off it. At its conclusion, Edis, the composer, said something along the lines of: We couldn't swing it any harder, perhaps we should go home now! Yes, it was that good. Whichever superstars are swinging it tonight in NYC they'll struggle to match it. 

Harold Arlen's It's Only a Paper Moon Nat King Cole-style with, perhaps, a touch of Erroll Garner, followed by Moten Swing (a la Oscar Peterson) just about reached the dizzying heights of the opener. Bill Evans' Very Early and a magical Lullaby of Birdland transported the listener back to 52nd Street's heyday. Edis' bandmates - bassist Andy Champion and drummer Russ Morgan - are two of the best around and as a trio, these guys would surely cut it on today's ultra-competitive New York scene. 

Edis did disappoint on one number. In introducing Ba-lue Bolivar Ba-lues-Are our pianist said he wouldn't be demonstrating Thelonious Monk's well-documented dance moves. Maybe next time, Dr Edis?! Conscious of the fast approaching two o'clock finish, Edis asked if we would stay on a few minutes past the top of the hour as he wanted to fit in two more tunes. We weren't going anywhere! Lush Life as transcribed and performed by Phineas Newborn Jr took us up to two, and, the other side of the hour, the Paul Edis Trio went out on Brubeck's Unsquare Dance. Gig of the month (so far)! 
Russell

* Emma Fisk's Hot Club du Nord will be at the Gala Theatre on April 5th but, if you haven't got a ticket, you're too late, it's a sellout three months in advance! So, if you would like to attend next month's concert (March 1) featuring the Giles Strong Trio (Roly Veitch, Ian Paterson) book now or miss out. Tel: 03000 266 600. 

2 comments :

Lance said...

Wow sounds good - a bit like the Complete Works of William Shakespeare in 90 minutes!
Well, perhaps not quite! Maybe there will be a less concise performance sometime in the future without a constricting timescale then we could have the good doctor's take on Jelly Roll, Fats, Art, Earl, Teddy, Bud, Chick, Herbie, Keith etc.
Just a thought... Are you listening JNE, Globe, Black Swan?

Anonymous said...

I must say it was pretty special

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