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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

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.

Sunday, July 14, 2019

Denmark Street Big Band with Jo Harrop @ The Dean Street Pizza Express, Soho, London - July 13

(Review by Russell)

This was something of a treat. A day trip to London to hear Paul Burch's cracking big band working with star vocalist Jo Harrop. The Gene Krupa Story is the Denmark Street Big Band's latest project and on a warm summer's day the orchestra assembled for a lunchtime engagement at the Dean Street Pizza Express.

Soho bustled as it always does; traders, tourists, locals, some looking cool, some trying to look cool, others not so cool. The Pizza Express' basement venue offered some relief from the on-street rising mercury. Members of the orchestra arrived in ones and twos as Ms Harrop sound-checked alongside pianist Ben Croft.  

Gene Krupa, Benny Goodman, the kings of pre-war swing, this would be the fayre on offer alongside a mouthwatering selection courtesy of the Pizza Express' hard-working, efficient team. The on-stage team - Paul Burch's hand-picked ensemble - swung it from the off. Nick Charles (aka Benny Goodman), sitting to Burch's left, featured on clarinet with the lead tenor sax parts handled by the depping Alex Garnett. The Big Noise from Winnetka with a band arrangement went down a storm as did Starburst with Anita O'Day in the wings waiting her turn. 

MD Burch welcomed O'Day (aka Jo Harrop) to the stage to sing a few numbers beginning with a believable Ten Cents a Dance. Harrop took us up to the interval with some choice cuts; Georgia accompanied by Garnett's tenor sax, Boogie Blues (Nick Charles blowing alto), Memories of You (Harrop referencing the movie The Gene Krupa Story in which O'Day made a cameo appearance opposite Sal Mineo's Krupa), Drummin' Man turned the spotlight on the man behind the traps, Mr Gary O'Toole - Krupa himself would have been impressed! - and, as Roy Eldridge (aka David Mian) joined the band here at the Pizza Express, the roof came off with Thanks for the Boogie Ride and again as Harrop closed a fine first set with 'Little Jazz' Mian blowing on Let Me Off Uptown.   

The reeds blowing on Bugle Call Rag signalled the return to the stage of the Denmark Street ensemble. A band arrangement of Flying Home met with the approval of the Dean Street pizza-dining crowd as did Indiana. Thus far the principal soloists had been Alex Garnett and Nick Charles. Time for a trumpet feature on Hoagy's Rockin' Chair starring Andy Gibson - at its end cue tumultuous applause!   

And more applause as County Durham's Jo Harrop (Londoners take note, Jo is merely on loan!) returned to conclude the afternoon's set with a run of winning numbers. Tea for Two (recalling Jazz on a Summer's Day), Bolero at the Savoy, a fabulous He's Funny That Way followed by an instrumental band number (Opus One) setting up a highlight of highlights as Ms Harrop, accompanied by pianist Ben Croft, sang Skylark. If a pin had fallen the silence would have been shattered...it didn't and it wasn't. Quite simply, a wonderful moment. 

The fabulous Ms Harrop concluded her big band vocal masterclass with a double helping of George and Ira Gershwin. First, 'S Wonderful brought in by Croft's leisurely piano intro, then, with a snap of the fingers, the Denmark Street guys took it at breakneck pace with Krupa, sorry, O'Toole, soloing and Harrop word perfect. Phew! They Can't Take That Away from Me took it down and out. Calls for an encore heeded, the Pizza Express' jazz-loving crowd got Sing, Sing, Sing as the familiar drum pattern on the toms set the band off on a rollercoaster ride. It had been quite an afternoon.  
Russell             

Denmark Street Big Band: Paul Burch (MD, alto sax, clarinet); Nick Charles (clarinet, alto sax); Alex Garnett (tenor sax); Mike Rubie (tenor sax); Frank White (baritone sax); David Mian, Andy Gibson, Duncan Fraser, Sean Hollis (trumpets); Jeff Mason, Sam Sankey, Marcus Reynolds, Alan Tomlinson (trombones); Curtis Volt (guitar); Ben Croft (piano); Doug Grannell (double bass); Gary O'Toole (drums); Jo Harrop (vocals)

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