Total Pageviews

Bebop Spoken There

Branford Marsalis: "As ignorance often forces us to do, you make a generalisation about a musician based on one specific record or one moment in time." - (Jazzwise June 2023).

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!"

Postage

15491 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 512 of them this year alone and, so far, 133 this month (May 31).

From This Moment On ...

June
Thu 01: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 01: Thursday Night Prayer Meeting @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Donations.
Thu 01: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Ragtime piano. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.
Thu 01: Jake Leg Jug Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Thu 01: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Fri 02: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 02: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 02: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.
Fri 02: Joseph Carville Trio @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm.
Fri 02: Claire Martin & Her Trio @ The Witham, Barnard Castle. 7:30pm. £25.00., £20.00. Feat. Jim Mullen, Alex Garnett & Jeremy Brown.
Fri 02: Guy Davis + Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. Doors 7:30pm. Blues double bill.
Fri 02: Anders Ingram @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Blind Pig Blues Club. Country blues. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.

Sat 03: Newcastle Record Fair @ Northumbria University, Newcastle NE8 8SB. 10:00am-3:00pm. Admission: £2.00.
Sat 03: Pedigree Jazz Band @ St Augustine's Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm.
Sat 03: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. Tutor: Sue Ferris. £25.00. Enrol at: www.jazz.coop.
Sat 03: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 6:00pm. Free.
Sat 03: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 03: Papa G's Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.

Sun 04: Smokin' Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm.
Sun 04: Central Bar Quintet @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00-4:00pm. £5.00. The Central Bar Quintet plays Sonny Rollins' Saxophone Colossus. Featuring Lewis Watson.
Sun 04: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 3:00pm.
Sun 04: Struggle Buggy + Michael Littlefield @ Tyne Bar, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Acoustic blues.
Sun 04: Swinging at the Cotton Club: Harry Strutters' Hot Rhythm Orchestra @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.
Sun 04: Richard Jones Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 04: Jam No. 18 @ Fabio's Bar, Saddler Street, Durham. 8:00pm. Free. All welcome. A Durham University Jazz Society event.

Mon 05: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.

Tue 06: Paul Skerritt @ The Rabbit Hole, Hallgarth St., Durham DH1 3AT. 7:00pm. Paul Skerritt's (solo) weekly residency.
Tue 06: Jam session @ Black Swan, Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. House trio: Stu Collingwood (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Sid White (drums).

Wed 07: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 07: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 07: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:00pm.
Wed 07: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Scarborough Jazz Festival 2019. Sunday, September 22. Afternoon Session: Alec Dankworth's Spanish Accents and Bonsai.

Alec Dankworth's Spanish Accents:
Graciela Rodriquez (vocal), Jesus Olmedo (dance), Roland Sutherland (flute), Mark Lockheart (saxes), Phil Robson (guitar), Alec Danworth (double bass), Demi Garcia Sabat (drums).
(Review/photos by Steve T).

Dog-sitter problems meant we had to forfeit the first band of the session but arrived just in time for this impressive lineup. The thought of some sketches of Spain and Tijuana moods was mouth-watering but also presented problems of translation, comprehension and no doubt spelling, so apologies in advance for going with his translations.

The first piece translated as In Your Latte and brought the first of many fine solos from flautist Roland Sutherland. The instrument is still a relative rarity in jazz which always keep them interesting.

The second piece was Drinking Water and introduced featured vocalist Graciela Rodriquez and brought the first solo from Phil Robson, demonstrating why he's one of the country's leading jazz guitarists. The choice of guitar over piano seemed appropriate and proved to be a masterstroke. 

Rodriquez upped the ante for the first of two pieces from Cuban album and film the Buena Vista Social Club, giving a more deep-throated and impassioned performance.

Dankworth announced Oye Como Va as a piece made famous by its creator Tito Puente, though Santana probably made it far more famous. This stuck with the original, but with lyrics in English.

Two original instrumentals were followed by a Spanish folk song translated as Four Wheel Drive, featuring an unsuccessful attempt to replicate the sound of bagpipes - apparently commonplace in Spanish music - with a flute. Once it got going, it reminded me of an early Jethro Tull song called Fatman, with some great flute, the drummer playing with his hands and dancer Olmedo adding castanets.

The announcement of the final piece as Sudusa by Abdullah Ibrahim met with approval from the audience and proved the high point of the set for me, the leader conceding it's more African than Spanish, though there do seem to be many historic links between Spain and Africa, just across the Med.

Bonsai
Rory Ingham (trombone), Dominic Ingham (violin, vocal), Toby Comeau (keyboards), Joe Lee (bass guitar), Jonny Mansfield (drums).

Just time for a quick latte while listening to northeast guitarist James Birkett and his trio, with guests on keyboards, harmonica and an assortment of singers, before it was back in for the next band, only to find it had changed from the original programme.
      
They'd been scheduled to open the day's session but had presumably swapped with the New Jazz Extempore, who were due to close the afternoon session.

I was intrigued by the unusual frontline of trombone and violin and it worked a treat. Compere Alan Barnes described them as a cracking little band and - for once - he wasn't joking.

Hop and the Hip Replacement found the trombone embellished with effects while the violin played it straight, and the set was at its best when both frontline instruments played.

Dominic handled most of the vocals and was fine rather than remarkable, though struggled outside his range. A bit folky, a bit proggy, one small moan would be that there was too much singing and I liked it better when he was playing violin.

A number of people began to drift away, though I suspect more to extend the break before the next session than as a reflection of the band, but we took the opportunity to move right to the front.

Once again the final piece was my favourite, this one called The Crescent. It featured several tempo changes, 'bone and violin in unison during the faster passages, intricate drumming, an into-it bass player and a keyboardist in the centre keeping it all together. 

An extended trombone solo increased the anticipation of a final violin showcase, but the tension was prolonged by a restrained bass solo, with light touch cymbals and keys before the 'bone came back in, Dominic scatting along before his violin joined the trombone ahead of his inevitable solo.

They'd have probably benefited from going on first or playing the previous set, but nevertheless did themselves proud.     
Steve T

No comments :

Blog Archive