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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.

Wednesday, May 01, 2019

Martin Guy Band w. Sara Dowling @ Spice of Life, Soho - May 1.

Sara Dowling (vocals); Paul Higgs (trumpet); Al Nicholls (tenor); Tim Huskisson (piano); Pete Morgan (bass); Martin Guy (drums).
(Review by Lance)


The last time I was in the basement bar of the Spice of Life they had an upright piano. In the intervening years, they have acquired a grand. When I enquired as to how they got it down there I was told - "In bits!".
Well, by the time of my visit this afternoon, the bits had been very well put together.

Five great musicians and a singer, of whom more shortly, made me wonder why any one - if not all six - hadn't been among the nominations at last night's Jazz FM Awards?

The clientèle was noticeably older than at last night's shindig and hats were at a minimum but the enthusiasm was no less, and why shouldn't it be? This was the real deal.
A Slow Boat to China had an unaccompanied Higgs stating the theme before they were off. Killer solos all round. Higgs reminds me of what Chet Baker might have sounded like if his teacher had been Red Allen. Nicholls brought to mind those tenor titans such as Al Gay, Danny Moss and Tommy Whittle. This was most apparent on Just Friends. Huskisson blew everyone away on piano with leader Guy booting it all along but the most intriguing member of the band was Pete Morgan on what looked like a bass ukulele but sounded like a Fender Jazz - the miracles of this digital age!

I've said it before, the number of first-rate female jazz singers rolling off the conveyor belts is reaching astronomical numbers but, surely, on this afternoon's performance (and her current CD) Sara Dowling must be ranked very close to the top. A performance that was never less than terrific grabbed everyone in the room.

Can't We Be Friends?; Soon; I'm Old Fashioned; Embraceable You (the fleeting moment of silence as she went from the out of tempo verse to the chorus was electric - goosebumps!); You'd be So Nice to Come Home to (muted trumpet blast by Higgs!!!) and it was interval time and the opportunity to chat with Paul Higgs, and to pass on regards from old colleague, Russ Morgan. Paul couldn't believe it when I told him Russ now had a 'short back and sides'! More chat with organiser David Burr who informed me how he'd successfully transferred the old 100 Club Friday lunchtime sessions to The Spice and, finally, a hug from Sara in acknowledgment of my review of her CD - yhis reviewing business does have its perks!

A shorter second set (marginally) but maybe even better! Day in, Day Out; You're Not the Kind; My Foolish Heart - Sara can change maybe just one note and turn the whole tune upside down - just as all the great jazz singers can - Tangerine; Who Cares? and, finally, a crazy version of Honeysuckle Rose - Anita O'Day meets Fats Waller at Minton's!

Quite an afternoon!
Lance.

1 comment :

Liz said...

Sounded just my kinda gig Lance, excellent review, thanks!

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