Total Pageviews

Bebop Spoken There

Charles Lloyd: "I'm raring to go out to play, because I know I'll find something to explain the inexplicable." (DownBeat August 2022)

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

14438 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 14 years ago. 716 of them this year alone and, so far, 13 this month (August 6).

From This Moment On ...

August

Mon 08: Jazz in the Afternoon @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Mon 08: Central Bar Quintet plays John Jenkins with Kenny Burrell @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 7:30pm. Concert performance (featuring Giles Strong) + jam session. £5.00 (free admission to sitters-in).

Tue 09: Jam session @ Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. House trio: Mark Williams, Katy Trigger, King David Ike-Elechi.
Tue 09: Abbie Finn Trio @ Forum Music Centre, Darlington. 7:30pm.

Wed 10: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 10: Castillo Nuevo @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30-8:30pm.
Wed 10: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 10: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:00pm.
Wed 10: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thu 11: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, North Tyneside. 1:00pm.
Thu 11: Baghdaddies @ Cumberland Arms, Newcastle. Time TBC.
Thu 11: Indigo Jazz Voices: Little Big Band Special @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. POSTPONED!
Thu 11: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm. Guests Donna Hewitt (sax) Josh Bentham (sax) Garry Hadfield (keys).

Fri 12: Ben Gilbert Trio @ Bishop Auckland Town Hall. 1:00pm.
Fri 12: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 12: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 12: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.

Sun 14: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Spanish City, Whitley Bay. 12 noon.
Sun 14: Tees Valley Jazzmen @ Hammer & Pincers, Preston le Skerne. 1:00pm.
Sun 14: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ West Park, South Shields. 2:00pm.
Sun 14: Foundry Jazz Ensemble @ The Exchange, North Shields. 3:00pm.
Sun 14: Anth Purdy @ Blues & Bourbon, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free.
Sun 14: Castillo Nuevo @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30-8:30pm.
Sun 14: Sunday Night Am Jam Special @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Note start time.

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
at

No comments :

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )

Blog Archive