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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.

Monday, April 01, 2019

Remembering Keith @ the Prohibition Bar - March 31.

(Review by Lance)

I'd just watched Sunderland lose the Chekatrade Cup final to Portsmouth so that entering the Pro Bar and hearing Gypsy Dave Smith, accompanied by Ray Burns,  singing the blues captured my mood. I'd despaired at the cheers from Newcastle's 'anti-Sunderland' fans when Pompey emerged victorious after a penalty shoot-out. Nice one guys support a team that's 400 miles away as opposed to one that's about 12 miles and a few stops on the Metro! But that's the tribalism of the so-called beautiful game on Mother's Day*.

I remembered Crombie's views on football fans - they didn't get into the old Jazz Caff if they were wearing 'shirts' - 'A bunch of wankers!' his favourite remark. 

And, of course, we jazzers have also been guilty of tribalism if you think back to the days when traddies and boppers decreed that ne'er the like should meet.


That particular conflict has long been resolved - witness Lindsay Hannon singing Basin Street Blues. Lady Day Hannon treated it gentle. Caressing the old Spencer Williams tune as if it were the most sentimental ballad of love and yet, without losing the old New Orleans' feel, it was a pin drop moment. 
So, why were we all gathered together like this? To enjoy the music of course but, also to remember the late Keith Crombie.

Crombie is (I hate to say 'was') perhaps the most enigmatic non-playing jazz figure in the northeast and it was fitting that he should be remembered with a plaque on the wall, unveiled by his sister Janet, in the place where he made it all happen.
It was also an evening that reunited old friends and introduced new friends - hi Helena, I know we're friends on F/b but it's not the same as being friends in person whilst listening to some great music.

Then there was Kevah and his camera and his always friendly greeting. Jazz friends seem to have inseparable bonds (well most) and Kev's photos are excellent (click here).

Because it was as much a social occasion as a gig, the music wasn't always picked up by the crowd but, some of the ones that I tuned in to were, Lindsay singing Some Other Time; John Rowland blowing that rarely heard Rodgers and Hart ballad, You Are Too Beautiful and Val Clemens singing All of Me. We also had the surprise of the night when proprietor Mitch sat in on drums - following Ian Forbes no less! Turned out Mitch was just keeping the drum stool warm for 'Lady' Caroline Mary who was out slumming but proved that she too could play.
By now the 8:00pm advertised finish had long gone and, with it, so had I. I probably missed more great music - how could I not with Mark Williams and Paul Grainger aboard? But, I left, football forgotten but memories of the past and the present very much alive.
Lance.
PHOTOS.
*Mother's à la Miles.

2 comments :

Unknown said...

Thankyou So Much Lance a lovely write-up you never fail to impress it was a lovely night which I'm sure Keith would have approved of ...It was lovely to see you again too. Mitch and colleagues have created a beautifull Jazz venue I loved it .. take care my friend Val

Helena said...

Great write up about a very special evening at the Prohibition Bar unveiling the Keith Crombie Plaque Lance Thank you for the Mention it was lovely To meet you at last after being facebook friends for ages

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