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Bebop Spoken There

Art Blakey: "You [Bobby Watson] don't want to play too long, because you don't know they're clapping because they're glad you finished!" - (JazzTimes, Nov. 2019)..

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!"

Postage

15848 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 855 of them this year alone and, so far, 53 this month (Sept. 18).

From This Moment On ...

September

Mon 25: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Mon 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 7:00pm.

Tue 26: Paul Skerritt @ The Rabbit Hole, Hallgarth St., Durham DH1 3AT. 7:00pm. Paul Skerritt's (solo) weekly residency.

Wed 27: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 27: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 27: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thu 28: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 28: Alice Grace Quartet @ King's Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 28: Gateshead Jazz Appreciation Society @ Gateshead Central Library, Gateshead. 2:30pm. All welcome.
Thu 28: Faye MacCalman + Snape/Sankey @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Thu 28: Zoe Rahman @ Jesmond United Reformed Church, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:30pm. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Thu 28: '58 Jazz Collective @ Hops & Cheese, Hartlepool. 7:30pm.
Thu 28: Speakeasy @ Queen's Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm. £15.00. A Southpaw Dance Company presentation. Dance, audio-visuals, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, swing dancers etc.
Thu 28: Mick Cantwell Band @ Harbour View, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Ace blues band.
Thu 28: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Fri 29: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 29: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 29: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.

Sat 30: John Pope Quintet + Late Girl + Shapeshifters @ Bobik's, Jesmond, Newcastle.
Sat 30: Papa G's Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.

OCTOBER

Sun 01: Smokin' Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm.
Sun 01: Dulcie May Moreno sings Portrait of Sheila @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00. Moreno sings Sheila Jordan with Giles Strong, Mick Shoulder & John Bradford.
Sun 01: Middlesbrough Jazz & Blues Orchestra @ Saltburn Community Hall. 2:00pm.
Sun 01: The Easy Rollers @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £13.70., £11.55.
Sun 01: Brand/Roberts/Champion/Sanders @ Blank Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Sun 01: Papa G's Troves @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 02: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Mon 02: FILM: Wattstax; 50th Anniversary @ Forum Cinema, Hexham. 8:00pm.

Monday, April 01, 2019

CD Review: Dominic Miller - Absinthe

Dominic Miller (Guitar); Santiago Arias (Bandoneon); Mike Lindup; (Keyboard); Nicolas Fiszman (Bass); Manu Katché (Drums). 
(Review by Chris)

This is the second ECM recording by Miller, the versatile and much travelled guitarist originating from Buenos Aires, but now resident in the south of France where this was translucently recorded in the usual ECM style. His French home infuses the music with a light, airy folk feel, but although tempting to think of the bandoneon sounding like a French accordion, the instrument and harmonies here are definitively Argentinian, home of young folk/jazz star Santiago Arias, who takes the majority of melodic lead role. I’d say Miller achieves his sleeve-note aim of an Impressionist musical statement, in the tradition of the painter masters of Provence of old.  Miller has links to the North East musical history, as he has toured and recorded with Sting since 1991, but this album marks a rather different direction to his day job.


The album consists of ten short and varied songs, carefully crafted, with a laid back, ethereal vibe, reaching high energy levels only occasionally.  The title track opens with solo acoustic guitar, but it’s soon obvious that this is an ensemble effort, showcasing sumptuous and delicate playing by the rest of the band.   Manu Katché makes his familiar artful contribution, with the sparkling recording allowing every shimmer, clatter and resonation of his kit to be heard.

Track 6, Etude, stands out with repeated, interlocking contrapuntal phrases between guitar, bass and the rest of the band, riding hypnotically on Katché’s infectious beats.  Tracks 7 and 8 raise the energy levels and tempo: Bicycle hits a more animated groove, with synth replacing piano on top, while Ombu cuts loose, with a free section, and Katché finally unleashing full power.  The album closes with the slower and more abstract Ténèbres, and the final track, St Vincent, sharing another haunting melody around and over a busy, skittering drum part.

Overall, a delightful, accessible and engaging work, with ghostly and oblique melodies to charm the ears, and enough guitar and percussion mastery to satisfy the technical minded.  Could be enjoyably consumed on its own, or letting it wash over you, perhaps relaxing with a bottle of Argentine Malbec.
Chris Kilsby
Release date: 01.03.2019 ECM 2614

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