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Bebop Spoken There

Simon Spillett: “ Bebop and hard bop came naturally to him [Tubby Hayes]". Morning Star, March 28, 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

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.
Fri 29: True Colours @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 9:00pm. Blues, jazz & swing.

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.

Thu 04: FILM: Soul @ Forum Cinema, Hexham. 2:00pm. Jazz-themed film animation.
Thu 04: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 04: Funky Drummer @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 04: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 04: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Tuesday, May 14, 2019

Keswick Jazz & Blues Festival: Keith Nichols' Ragamuffins - May 11

Keith Nichols (piano); Michael McQuaid (reeds, vocals); Alistair Allan (trombone, vocals); Spats Langham (banjo, guitar, vocals); Malcolm Sked (double bass, sousaphone); Nick Ward (drums)
(Review by Russell)
On a warm, blue sky Cumbrian day it would have been understandable if some festival-goers joined the many walkers on the fells high above the bustling Lakeland town. Jazz the priority, the Theatre by the Lake once more accommodated a large crowd to hear Keith Nichols present the second of three concerts at Keswick 2019. 

On the Trail of the Lonesome Pine sang Spats Langham, his fellow Ragamuffins hit the Gin Bottle Blues with Spats staying on the wagon to sing the tongue-twister Nagasaki. A typically eclectic selection of tunes for Nichols' small group to play to an onside crowd. The repartee between band leader and sidemen is never less than entertaining and,  invariably, Maestro Nichols has the final word although a tradition has developed whereupon the audience greets Malcolm Sked (sousaphone) with tumultuous applause leaving the Ragamuffins' bandleader in a state of bemusement...much hilarity all round!     
A Fats Waller medley (Nichols retains a fine command of ragtime and stride piano styles), an Alistair Allan feature on I Cover the Waterfront (Nichols couldn't resist telling the story of Bruce Turner habitually referring to the number as I Water the Front Cover!), Michael McQuaid playing alto sax on Joe Jordan's Dreaming the Hours Away, Spats dedicating My Sweet Virginia to the late Ted Wood (Temperance Seven, Bob Kerr's Whoopie Band), this was a gentle amble (countryside ramble?) through a thoroughly enjoyable concert set list.

The afternoon's entertainment once more turned to Fats Waller (Come on and Stomp, Stomp, Stomp), Spats singing Bing (In the Blue of the Night) and All God's Chillun Got Rhythm interspersed by a few more observational gems from Nichols including: Lil Hardin was a diminutive woman who played the piano like a rhinoceros! 

Out into the late afternoon sunshine and a stroll up to Main Street in search of a decent pint before a night of Stateside blues.    
Russell

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