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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

15478 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 499 of them this year alone and, so far, 120 this month (May 27).

From This Moment On ...

May 2023

Wed 31: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 31: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 31: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:00pm.
Wed 31: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

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.

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).

Sunday, October 20, 2019

CD Review: Fleur Seule – Standards And Sweet Things

(Review by Ann Alex)

Yes I thought after hearing the first 2 tracks, yet another sweetish-voiced woman singer, clear diction, competent musicians, good but not unusual, then I sat up for track 3, I Only Have Eyes For You, done as a very slow ballad with the piano commenting after each line, a bass solo, and sung in a manner I can only describe as 'lovingly'. The slowness of this version would have daunted many singers and made listeners yawn, but Ms Briggs carries it off well.

This is the fifth studio album from the band Fleur Seule and they are every inch an experienced outfit. They are described as Manhattan's very own 1940's jazz band and the CD includes swing, French songs from WW2 and the sounds of Puerto Rico. Ms Briggs looks the part as she is a blonde who resembles Marilyn Monroe. A CD with a cheerful feel, suitable for your next nostalgic party.

They play regularly at Birdland, and have a 5 year residency as the house band at The Tavern on the Green. Ms Briggs sings in 7 languages and speaks 4 so she is able to cover many genres to reach the varied New York audiences.

This is a very enjoyable CD and some tracks deserve a special mention, such as the lively Them There Eyes with a skilled trumpet solo; Tenderly, which is very, yes, tender, slow with brushed drums and a romantic bowed bass; Shoo-Fly Pie And Apple Pan Dowdy is a very amusing song about food, quote 'shoo-fly pie and apple pan dowdy, makes your eyes light up and your stomach say howdy'.

 Then we have the variety of a fast Latin number, Piel Canela; a jaunty French fun song Zou Zou Bisou and the more serious La Vie En Rose. Other tracks are: Taking A Chance On Love; Sabor A Mi; Manuelo; Misty; Con Los Anos Que Me Quedan; Almost Like Being In Love; Sweet Happy Life; Embraceable You; and 'S Wonderful.

The album was self-released on October 9. See www.fleurseule.com
Ann Alex

Allyson Briggs (vocals, bandleader); Andy Warren (trumpet, arranger, musical director); Jason Yeager (piano); Michael O'Brien (bass); Paul Francis (drums); Richard Miller (guitar); Ivan Llanes (percussion); Martina DeSilva, Vanessa Perea, Marg Davis (background vocals)

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