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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.

Friday, July 12, 2019

John Pope Quintet @ the Bridge Hotel - July 7


Faye MacCalman (tenor saxophone, clarinet); Jamie Stockbridge (alto saxophone); Graham Hardy (trumpet); John Pope (double bass;) Johnny Hunter (drums)
(Review by Steve H)

This band played its inaugural gig at this very same venue  3 years ago. I said in my review at the time how much I hoped that this would not just be a one-off gig. The band is geographically split between Newcastle and Manchester although even the non-Geordie residents have Newcastle connections. Pope, MacCalman and Hardy are well known local favourites. Jamie Stockbridge although now resident in Manchester formed his regular band Taupe in Newcastle and Johnny Hunter appears so many times in Newcastle I suspect he may have a season ticket for United. Thankfully having being selected as one of this year’s Jazz North’s Northern Line bands they have been able to come together more often and Sunday night saw the culmination of a 4 gig Northern Powerhouse tour (Manchester, Leeds, and Sheffield).

The original premise of the quintet was as a tribute to Ornette Coleman and there is definitely still a touch of the Ornettes about them not only on the Coleman tunes but also on many of the others, most of which were penned by The Pope himself. John was keen to point out that his compositions are inspired by those who have gone before and on Sunday night name checks were given to Graham Collier and Misha Mengelberg.

The initial part of the first set was literally blinding as the evening sun poured through the Bridge’s bay windows making it a little uncomfortable and forcing this correspondent to don sunglasses. However, once the sun had begun to set I was able to concentrate on the tremendous music emanating from the bandstand especially the magnificently named Country Bears Go North inspired by the famous Disney audio-animatronic attraction.

With the sunglasses now removed I settled down to watch the second set of simply barnstormingly brilliant music. One really raucous stomping high-velocity tune was followed by a delightful ballad the name of which I couldn’t quite catch but it had Glass in the title and was about peace (Piece of glass?). An encore was demanded and we were rewarded with an old favourite of John’s, The Pixies/David Lynch song The Lady in the Radiator.

This really is a fantastic band the soloists are all superb as is the ensemble playing. They are an outstanding example of contemporary modern British jazz. I certainly enjoyed this gig as much as if not more than many others that I have seen from far more feted bands. Hopefully, the exposure given to them by being on the current Northern Line roster will propel them to national if not international recognition.     
Steve H

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