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Bebop Spoken There

Ambrose Akinmusire: “ I am certainly always aware of what the masses are doing. And when I see too many people going one way, I'm going another way - even when I don't know what's over that way". DownBeat, March, 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

Tue 19: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Tim Johnston.

Wed 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 20: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 20: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 21: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 21: Castillo Neuvo Trio + Conor Emery & His ‘Bones Band @ The Grove, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £10.00. (£7.00. student).
Thu 21: Remi Banklyn + Chris Corcoran Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.50. Chicago blues. An International Guitar Foundation promotion.
Thu 21: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Ragtime piano.
Thu 21: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 22: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 22: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 22: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 22: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 22: Nauta + Remy CB + Last Orders @ Hoochie Coochie, Newcastle. 8:30pm (7:30pm doors). Free.
Fri 22: Vasilis Xenopoulos-Paul Edis Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £15.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 22: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 23: Jambone @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Free (ticketed). End of term performance in the Northern Rock Foundation Hall.
Sat 23: Milne-Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 23: Red Kites Jazz @ Rowlands Gill Community Centre NE39 1JB. 7:00pm. Tickets: £12.00. (gibsidecommunityfarm@gmail.com). A ‘Build a Barn’ fundraiser. BYOB, tea/coffee available.
Sat 23: New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00. + bf (book in person at venue - no booking fee!). Featuring pianist Martin Litton.
Sat 23: Pete Tanton’s Cuba Libre @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 24: Musicians Unlimited @ Park Inn, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 24: Luis Verde @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. Verde (alto sax); Joe Steels (guitar); John Pope (double bass); John Hirst (drums). Alto sax brilliance!
Sun 24: Elsie Franklin @ The Globe, Newcastle. 3:00pm. £10.00. Country blues. An International Guitar Foundation promotion.
Sun 24: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay Metro Station. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: Las Vegas Live with the Rat Pack @ The Forum, Billingham.
Sun 24: Ian Millar & Dominic Spencer @ Otterburn Memorial Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Sun 24: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Note start time - 7:00pm.
Sun 24: Bold Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 25: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tuesday, July 09, 2019

Jake Walker Orchestra @ The Black Swan, Newcastle - July 8


Jake Walker Orchestra: Cedric De Lat (trumpet); Tobias Storme (trombone); Warre Van de Putte (tenor saxophone); Ruben Van Bost (clarinet, tenor sax, soprano sax); Wouter 'Wally' Van den Broeck (piano); Pieter Mortier (string bass); Wannes 'Wannie' Cornelis (drums).
(Review by Russell)

Gig of the year, as simple as that. Jake Walker or, to give the band its full name, the Jake Walker Orchestra, arrived on Tyneside midway through a first British tour. On the evidence of this Newcastle performance, it'll be the first of many.  

Jake Walker's tour itinerary found the band with a blank date - Sunday in Edinburgh, Tuesday in Edinburgh, what to do on Monday? In stepped Newcastle Arts Centre to offer the Belgian swing septet a gig in the Black Swan venue on Westgate Road. Those concerned should be congratulated on taking a punt, it paid off handsomely. 


A number of dyed-in-the-wool jazz fans joined a sizeable contingent of swing dancers drawn from across Tyneside and, encouragingly, Durham University Swing Society. Jake Walker is a young, conservatoire-trained outfit dedicated to performing swing-era charts. Taking the stage in penguin suits the band hit the ground running - think Basie Kansas City Six or Seven. In a nutshell C Jam Blues all night long would just about sum up this fantastic band. From the downbeat, the arrangements by pianist Wouter 'Wally' Van den Broeck were bang-on the money as string bassist Pieter Mortier dropped anchor alongside rhythm section partner, drummer Wannes 'Wannie' Cornelis. 

From the off the floor filled with dancers - stompin', swingin' numbers, ensemble and soloists absolutely superb on such as Jive at FiveShiny StockingsLi'l Darlin' and a first set closer, a seriously hot Sheik of Araby. Musicianship of the highest order from a band of twenty/thirty somethings, this was impressive stuff alright. All shone, to single out one would be invidious but, hey, how about tenor saxophonist Warre van de Putte? Quite brilliant. Had he beeen around some seventy five years ago Basie would have had him in the band in a trice! 

I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart (yet more superb tenor from Van de Putte), Rose Room, drummer Wannes 'Wannie' Cornelis swinging a Kansas City blues, Duke in the form of I'm Beginning to See the Light, some Benny G in the shape of Don't Be That Way and more - Stompin' at the Savoy (Van den Broeck's ace piano playing), the second set matched the first - superb! 

As Sing, Sing, Sing closed the show the Black Swan audience wanted another number; One more tune! One more tune! The Jake Walker Orchestra acceded to the demand sending the swing dancing crowd on its way with Jeep's Blues. Gig of the year, as simple as that.     
Russell

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