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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, August 09, 2019

What We Did At the Jazz Course @ The Globe: August 3 and 4


What We Did At the Jazz Course @ The Globe: August 3 and 4
(By Ann Alex)

First we drank tea as 9.30am counts as early rising for 15 jazzers. The aim of the course was to develop our playing and technique further under the wise guidance of tutors James Birkett (usually playing guitar) and Faye MacCalman (usually blowing sax). The group exercise to get us going saw us each doing one of 3 things, singing a short riff, singing a rhythm, or doing body percussion, which I found can actually hurt if you slap your leg too hard.


We were all loosened up, ready to split into 2 groups. James's group sounded a bit technical for my taste so I opted to go with Faye, along with some sax players, a keys man, guitars, a drummer and another singer, Sheila, who doubled as lunch organiser. The rest of Saturday was really good and interesting, improvising with very few notes, (even with just 1 note is possible), and using 4 different blues progressions. Not certain what the other group got up to but it involved the circle of 5ths and I caught someone talking about dreaded diminished chords over lunch. Before closing business Faye mentioned that we would be composing an original composition on Sunday. Hmm!

By Sunday the personnel of our group had changed, which is allowed, and we'd lost the keys man, a guitar and a sax to the other group. We remainers studied the first part of Mood Indigo, improvised extensively. Then we all spent 10 minutes thinking up riffs and arrangements, based on whatever we liked, but with Mood Indigo still somewhere in our consciousness. I went to the loo for quietness and cheated. I suddenly remembered the tuning of my ukulele, GCEA, and there was the riff! I quoted the phrase I'd been taught at Sage Gateshead for remembering the tuning 'Goats Can Eat Anything' and I was surprised that the group said they'd use the words as well as the riff.

Sheila brought us a pleasing riff which sounded almost tribal, the saxes came up with good stuff, the bass guitar riffs grounded us well and our skilled drummer played with delightful enthusiasm. We were in business, and arranged our piece by starting with Mood Indigo, merging into our riffs, solos etc and ending with singing 'Goats Can Eat Anything' with improvisations. The singing caused great surprise at our performance when we entertained the other group, especially when we asked them to join in.

The other group gave an equally entertaining performance of Autumn Leaves, with very skilled solos from everyone, including keys, guitars, saxes, but very cleverly they managed without a drummer and had no singers. Then we all went home.

I must end by thanking all concerned in the organisation of this great weekend, our skilled tutors, Sheila, Tom and also Dave Parker for keeping us fed and watered, and everyone for taking a full part in the workshops. Roll On Next Year!
Ann Alex 

1 comment :

Liz said...

Well done Ann, loved the story of your weekend, a very good review with your usual touches of humour! Keep it up...

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