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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

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.

Sun 29: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 29: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

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

Tuesday, March 05, 2019

Great North Big Band Jazz Festival 2019: Schools Section (Day 3) - Mar 3

(Review by Russell)

Sunday, the last lap, day three of three. The previous day's events culminating in the Managers Big Band retaining its senior open title were still fresh in the mind. Now it was over to the coming generation to show what it was capable of.

Two competition sections - schools and youth - offered a full day's entertainment at Park View Community Centre. Durham County Cricket Club aside, there can be few occasions in the calendar when hundreds of people descend on Chester le Street to participate in a truly social gathering.  

The overcast conditions threatened rain, the kind of conditions a seam bowler would relish down the road at the Riverside. At this time of year, it's either indoor nets or a warm weather training camp. That's for the cricketers, here at Park View conditions were ideal for big band jazz - a large, well-lit stage, a cabaret-style seating arrangement, a real ale bar, food, stalls - in short, a festival which ticked all the boxes.


SCHOOLS SECTION

The Johnston Stompers (MD Lucy Wiggers) arrived in school uniform, perhaps the only band to do so this year. The Stompers were representing Durham Johnston School. First-time participants, their programme comprised three numbers - MalaguenaSummertime and, refreshingly, Tiger Rag. One or two short in some sections, the local representatives gave a good account of themselves. 

The Tyne Valley Jazz Ensemble (MD Dave Hignett) tends not to have a problem recruiting musicians, indeed it would come as no surprise to learn there is a waiting list! Sophie Speed is a talented member of the saxophone section and Dave Hignett ensured she was given every opportunity to shine and shine she did! TVBB gave value for money fitting in five numbers; Buffalo HeadGospel, the welcome inclusion of Basin Street BluesGimme Some Lovin' (minus the Hammond B-3) and Lady Madonna

Greenhead College Big Band (MD Nick Dolling) from Huddersfield featured an instantly popular vocalist - Ms Daisy Cameron. Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend sang Daisy, Lullaby of Broadway and Mambo from West Side Story were staple fayre either side of a world premiere piece - Last Dance - composed by band pianist Louis Enright. 

The reigning champions Burton Borough School Big Band (MD Alison Ruston) made the long journey from Shropshire no doubt determined to mount a stout defence of their title. Sam Jones' Unit 7 opened the programme. This was impressive! A big band fan said: “Frightening, isn't it?” He was referring to the exceptionally high standard and it continued with Life Long Friend (a trombone feature for Ed Simons), Joe Zawinul's Mercy, Mercy, Mercy and Soul Sacrifice from an early incarnation of the Santana band. Our big band fan confided: That's it. 

Well, not quite it. Yarm School Big Band (MD Chris Hibbard - pictured) wanted to have a say and so they did. The hirsute Hibbard, of Crooners' fame, put his young charges through their paces with solid contributions from Femi Afolabi, tenor sax, on I Concentrate on You and James Muir, alto sax, on the band's final number Swingin' Shepherd Blues

Adjudicators Mick Donnelly and Marcus Brown compared notes and in due course made their way on to the stage. The results, announced by Bill Watson (director GNBBJF) were as follows:

SCHOOLS SECTION

Best Band: Burton Borough School Big Band

Best Soloist: Ed Simons (Burton Borough School Big Band) 

Best Section: Trombones, The Johnston Stompers (Durham Johnston School)*
* The section consisted of one trombonist - Harry Coe! 

Adjudicators' Awards

Kyle Walker, drums (Yarm School Big Band)

Ed Simons, trombone (Burton Borough School Big Band)

Sol Plumb, piano (Tyne Valley Jazz Ensemble)

Daisy Cameron, vocals (Greenhead College Big Band)

Russell

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