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Bebop Spoken There

Simon Moullier: “ Going back helps with the process of moving forward." - (JazzTimes, September 2021)

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! --

Postage

13,739 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 13 years ago. 1156 of them this year alone and, so far, 100 this month (Sept. 27).

From This Moment On ...

September

Wed 29: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 29: Darlington Big Band @ Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 29: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Thu 30: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, North Tyneside. 1:00pm.
Thu 30: Mainly Two @ Newcastle University. 1:15pm. ONLINE ONLY (YouTube).
Thu 30: '58 Jazz Collective @ Hops and Cheese, 9-11 Tower St., Hartlepool, TS24 7HH. Tel 0770 4160417. 7:30pm.
Thu 30: Shiver + Run Logan Run @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 8:00pm. NFOJIM.
Thu 30: Jeremy McMurray & the Jazz Pocket Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm.
Thu 30: Maine Street Jazzmen @ Sunniside Social Club, Gateshead. 8:30pm.

October

Fri 01: Robert Mitchell @ Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. NFOJIM.
Fri 01: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 01: Rendezvous Jazz @ Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.
Fri 01: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm.
Fri 01: Warmer Than Blood + Kit Downes + Ceitidh Mac @ Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 7:30pm. NFOJIM.
Fri 1: Knats + Hand to Mouth @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free but ticketed.

Sat 02: Paul Edis @ Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. NFOJIM.
Sat 02: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. Stuart Fowler: Learning Jazz Standards. £25.00. To enrol email: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 02: Zoë Gilby & Andy Champion @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 2:00pm. NFOJIM. SOLD OUT!
Sat 02: John Pope Quintet @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 3:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Sat 02: Jamie Cullum @ Sage Gateshead. 7:30pm.
Sat 02: Green Tangerines @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. NFOJIM.
Sat 02: Alina Bzhezhinska HipHarp Quartet + Pat Thomas @ Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 8:00pm. NFOJIM. SOLD OUT!
Sat 02: David Gray & Mark Williams @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sat 02: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm.

Sun 03: Vieux Carre Hot 4 @ Spanish City, Whitley Bay. 12 noon.
Sun 03: Smokin' Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm.
Sun 03: Zoe Rahman @ Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. NFOJIM. SOLD OUT!
Sun 03: Musicians Unlimited @ South Durham Social Club, Hartlepool. 1:00pm.
Sun 03: Abbie Finn Trio + jam session @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 2:00pm. NFOJIM.
Sun 03: Mainly Two @ The Globe, Newcastle. 3:00pm. NFOJIM.
Sun 03: Pope/Garner/Williams @ The Globe, Newcastle. 4:30pm. NFOJIM.
Sun 03: Fergus McCreadie Trio @ Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 7:00pm. NFOJIM. SOLD OUT!
Sun 03: Huw V Williams @ The Globe, Newcastle. 9:00pm. NFOJIM.

Mon 04: Jazz in the Afternoon @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.

Friday, April 19, 2019

CD Review: Gwen & Tiana - African Time

(Review by Ann Alex)

I would classify this music as soul-influenced, so perhaps it should have been reviewed by Steve T, whose long discussions with Lance about CDs and ‘vinyls’ I’ve enjoyed immensely. (I’m with you Steve, CD’s are the best invention since music itself*). This is happy party-style music, wise lyrics reflecting on life, with clapping, duets, short, snappy solos, fine playing. Right through from the start African Time, (a clever double meaning to introduce African-influenced songs), many with what I believe to be a ‘township’ feel. All the songs are original except for Yesterday.

De La Vie, in French, has a Latin beat; Happy Again has strong guitar chords between the lines of the song; Letting Go features Soweto Kinch and rap; McCartney’s Yesterday is an original version with an African beat and lively percussion. My favourite track was a folky African tune of the sort often sung well by community choirs On The Lane, ‘you’ll see the fireworks of butterflies, you’ll see them from your heart, don’t use your eyes’. The other track titles are: The Quest; Inner Kid; Keep On Going; I’ll Make It; Be Alright; Love Is The Answer. The lyrics are provided in the insert.

This is the debut album from vocalists Gwen and Tiana. Gwen is from Gabon and Togo and Tiana’s roots are in Cameroon and Madagascar. They came to France about 10 years ago to study music and they’ve sung as a duo since 2012. They have gone beyond soul music, using African culture and their own ideas to develop their music further.

The CD was released on April 12 by Ubuntu Music UBU0022. See www.gwentiana.com
Ann Alex
Gwen Thomas, Tiana Ewane (vocals); Femi Temowo (guitar); Oli Rockberger, (keys); Michael Olutuja (bass); Marijus Aleksa (drums); Junior Ali Balogun (perc) Jo Gustin (lyrics); String section by the Symbolic Orchestra; Special guests: Soweto Kinch (sax, vocals); Keyon Harrold (trumpet); Sona Jobarteh (vocals, kora); Gregoire Maret (harmonica).

 * Ms. Alex's contract is under review - Blogmaster
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