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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.

Wednesday, September 04, 2019

Jam Session @ the Black Swan - Sept. 3

(Review/photos by Lance).

Six singers in a session made this an evening to remember for those of us who like a well-crafted lyric and there have been few lyricists who crafted it better than Ira Gershwin with They All Laughed, although the version by Niffi O may have strayed from his original intentions! We weren't laughing, most of us were applauding wildly as we also did after she worked out on Nellie Lutcher's 1948 hit Fine Brown Frame.

Unintimidated by this wild beginning, Jen Errington who, Paul Grainger informed us has a cat called Duke (Duke Errington - get it?), offered contrast with When Sunny Gets Blue and You Go To My Head. A sensitive and tender performance that almost silenced the audience - almost!

Miriam McCormick followed with Good Morning Heartache and a jaunty I'm in the Mood for Love.

At last, an instrumentalist! Giles Strong didn't need words to get the message across on Days of Wine & Roses, Just Friends and, Blue Bossa.

A break was called - perhaps for bingo or maybe Simon Cowell was going to pass judgement? No, it was time to give Walker and Law a spell with Mo now on drums and a young first-timer, James, on piano. Sorry James but I didn't get your surname. With Giles and Paul still manning the fort, up stepped Jan.

How Insensitive and I Only Have Eyes for You. A few key explorations were called for before a mutually agreeable choice was made on the latter number - such are the hazards of jam sessions.

Enter JJ! It had been awhile since I'd heard the Lithuanian Lark and she was in scintillating form aided and abetted by Showtime Gray.
If You Don't Want to be Down With me was followed by a bizarre melange of Wave, Oye Como Va, Summertime, Autumn Leaves and maybe a few more! She also duetted with Alan Law on keyboard. Amazing!

Bob Caswell thought so and gave her the acknowledgement she deserved before treating us to The Shadow of Your Smile followed by Laura. Magnificent - look out Tony Bennett, Bob's only 8 years behind you and closing in.

Meanwhile, David Gray had been hovering - his trombone primed - and ready to storm the citadel. I Got Rhythm provided the ammunition and the trombone became a battering ram. This was so hot I'm sure the slide melted (see pic)! Misty was rather more mellow.

An unusual session that would have benefited from maybe a trumpet or a couple of saxes. As I headed for the Metro I noted a platoon  of suitcases emerging from the station. Part of the new intake - I wondered how many, if any, were aspiring jazz musicians? There's usually a few. Time will tell.
Lance.
PS: Needless to say, the house trio of Law, Grainger and Walker were excellent!

Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (bass); Rob Walker (drums) + Giles Strong (guitar); Hazem Mohammed (drums); David 'Showtime' Gray (trombone); James ? (piano); Niffi Osiyemi, Jen Errington, Miriam McCormick, Jan Spencelayh, Julija Jacenaite, Bob Caswell (vocals).

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