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Bebop Spoken There

Abbie Finn: "Even though there's a lot of great work being done to promote women in jazz, I still come up against some attitudes! I pulled up at a recording session with my drums in the car and the studio owner said, 'I'm sorry, this space is reserved for the drummer!'" - (Jazzwise April 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

15229 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 248 of them this year alone and, so far, 61 this month (March 20).

From This Moment On ...

March

Sat 25: Vermont Big Band @ Walker Community Centre, Walker, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Fundraiser for Benfield Juniours Football Club. Hot food available, BYOB.
Sat 25: John Logan & Friends @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Rat Pack, Motown etc. 8:00pm. Free (donations).

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited @ Park Inn, Hartlepool. 1:00pm.
Sun 26: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 3:00pm.
Mar 26: Pop Jazz @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. 'Jazzified' tunes by the likes of Sylvester, Bowie, the Monkees etc., feat. Alan Law, David Gray, Richard Herdman & Jude Murphy.
Sun 26: Outlines @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. JNE promotion (upstairs).

Mon 27: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.

Tue 28: Paul Skerritt @ The Rabbit Hole, Hallgarth St., Durham DH1 3AT. 7:00pm. Paul Skerritt's (solo) weekly residency.
Tue 28: Sanaz Lavasani Trio @ Black Swan, Newcastle Arts Centre. 8:00pm. £12.00 (£10.00. adv).

Wed 29: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 29: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 29: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:00pm.
Wed 29: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thu 30: Gateshead Jazz Appreciation Society @ Gateshead Central Library. 2:30-4:30pm. £2.00. All welcome.
Thu 30: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. Back to 1:00pm stomp off. Free.
Thu 30: '58 Jazz Collective @ Hops & Cheese, Hartlepool. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 30: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Harbour View, Sunderland. 8:00pm.
Thu 30: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Fri 31: Lewis Watson Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Town Hall. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 31: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 31: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 31: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm. CANCELLED! Back next week (April 7).
Fri 31: Jasmine Myra + Waclaw Zimpel @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Fri 31: The Revolutionaires @ The Shack, Boldon Colliery. 7:30pm. £10.00. The Revolutionaires' big band (horn section) line-up.
Fri 31: Andrew McCormack @ Maltings, Berwick. 8:00pm. £20.00.

Wednesday, October 02, 2019

CD Review: Miki Purnell - Midnight Bloom

Miki Purnell (vocal); Tamir Hendelman (piano); Alex Frank (bass);  Dean Koba (drums) + Bob Sheppard (sax/clarinet/flute x 5); Pat Kelley (guitar x 3); Tommy Aros (percussion x 4).
(Review by Lance).

Miki Purnell's second album is an appealing collection of songs loosely related to experiencing the wonders of nature at night which isn't a bad place to start.

Born and raised in Japan, after dipping her toes into the waters of jazz, Miki became a doctor in Hawaii and her career was professionally put on the backburner albeit whilst still singing after work for the residents of a nursing home. Sounds familiar? Miki wouldn't be the first doctor to combine the two.

A move to San Diego saw her parallel universe expanding. Not only did she become a member of the second largest integrative medicine team in the United States but also recorded her first CD Swingin' to the Sea which was so favourably reviewed worldwide that an eventual follow-up was inevitable.

Although the winsome little girl voice suggests shades of Chet Baker and Blossom Dearie - two of her biggest influences - it doesn't detract from her individuality. In a world where one in every three women are jazz singers (or so it seems) it is refreshing to find that unique person who stands out from the crowd. Miki Purnell does that here with a mix of the familiar, the not so familiar and a couple of her own,

"Being involved in music cultivates my creativity in medicine and in bonding with patients" says Miki.

She's equally creative in music too. On Embraceable You she applies her vocalese to a 1949 JATP Lester Young solo. Coleman Hawkins inspired her take on Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams whilst an original (co-written with pianist Henderson), Midnight Madness Called Jazz, is based on 'Round Midnight. Matt Dennis' The Night We Called it a Day, Stars (Endless Stars) by Fred Hersch and Norma Winstone, plus gems by Johnny Mandel with Dave Frishberg and the Bergmans add to what may well be the classiest vocal album of the year.

And there's more! Tamir Henderson is the perfect accompanist cum soloist - think Hank Jones and you're getting close. Bob Sheppard pops up on 5 tracks blowing tenor, clarinet and flute, adding that little bit extra. Pat Kelley does the same with some fine guitar work on four tracks with Tommy Aros helping out Koba and Frank in the rhythm section.

Next time you're feeling ill and can't get to Sacramento where Miki now practises just ask your GP to prescribe Midnight Bloom - 14 tracks, minimum twice a day with an extra dose at suppertime - it will work wonders!
Lance

Listen.

Moonlight Saving Time; Embraceable You; No Moon at All; Estrada Branca; 'Round Midnight/Midnight Madness Called Jazz; Quiet Now; Love Dance; The Night We Called it a Day; Teach me Tonight; You Are There; Solitary Moon; Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams; Stars; Midnight Bloom.

3 comments :

Ann Alex said...

Lance, I hope you are glad that it seems that 1 out of every 3 women are jazz singers. The more the merrier! It seems to me that 1 out of every 3 men are jazz sax players, but I'm not complaining, so I hope you aren't.

Lance said...

Ann, I only made the observation to emphasise that Miki Purnell is a singer who really does stand out from the crowd and is worth checking out by anyone who appreciates good jazz singing. I realise I was being facetious when I quoted '1 in 3' when it's probably nearer 1 in 5.

Miki P said...

Hello Lance!! Thank you so much for this beautiful review!!!! I showed it to my colleagues and we all love how you recommend prescription and additional dose at dinner time!! Super creative!!!

I am very honored!!

BTW, I joined the integrative medicine whenI moved to Sacramento!! In San Diego, i was just practicing family medicine!! Sorry for confusing bio.

Please take care and have a wonderful day!!! Hug!!

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