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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

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Traveller's Rest, Cockerton. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public). Note change of venue - CANCELLED CEILING COLLAPSED!
Wed 22: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:00pm.
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thu 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 4:00-6:00pm. Free.
Thu 23: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Bar Loco, Newcasatle. From 6:30pm 'til late. Free. Newcastle University Jazz Orchestra jam session. All welcome (students & non-students).
Thu 23: Kerrin Tatman + John Garner & John Pope @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Thu 23: Sunna Gunnlaugs & Julia Hülsmann @ Sage Gateshead. 8:00pm. A two-piano gig. A Sage Gateshead-JNE promotion.
Thu 23: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Ragtime piano.
Thu 23: Sleep Suppressor @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £10.00., £8.00. adv. Upstairs.
Thu 23: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.
Fri 24: FILM: Mo' Better Blues @ Forum Cinema, Hexham. 7:00pm.
Fri 24: Ian Millar & Dominic Spencer @ Scarth Hall, Staindrop, Co. Durham. 8:00pm. £10.00.
Fri 24: Archipelago + Bulbils @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.

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.
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).

Wednesday, October 02, 2019

CD Review: Troy Roberts - Days Like These

Troy Roberts (tenor sax); Joey DeFrancesco (organ x 3); Emmet Cohen (organ x 5); Jeff 'Tain' Watts (drums).
(Review by Lance).

The Aussie tenorman's 11th album, the 4th to grace these pages, and it's another belter! How could it not be with these guys? Roberts is undoubtedly suited to the organ trio set-up and B3 superman DeFrancesco spurs him on with that big fat sound he conjures from the beast and, on the tracks where Cohen is at the keyboards, Emmet does likewise.

On the up numbers such as Sly Old Dog Roberts goes for the jugular taking the tenor to the limit - soaring off the edge of the world - can a saxophone get rabies? Fortunately, just before the man in the white coat arrives, sly old dog that he is, Roberts takes it down to a mellow ending.

By contrast, Jack the Sipper is a cool bossa.

The last time I heard Little Man You've Had a Busy Day I think it was sung by Al Bowlly although it seems as though Clapton recorded it in 2016. It's a lovely tune displaying Robert's sensuous tone and he does it justice.

The Wizard of Ozroop, probably a reference to a town in the Outback, is another one that gives Roberts' fingers and embouchure a workout. The section where he and Watts go for broke had me applauding as if I was there! When Roberts steps down, Watts continues his onslaught behind Cohen before all three indulge in some fours.

The opener, My Girl is Just Enough Woman For Me, often featured in a Stanley Turrentine setlist and Roberts, DeFrancesco and Tain take it along at a nice easy pace. The tenorman making his virtuosity known early on.

Kern's Why Was I Born? is balladic perfection from both Roberts and Joey D with Watts, for once, suitably restrained (don't get me wrong, JTW is a man for all seasons) and I don't visualise the Kern estate taking action as they once did against Maynard Ferguson for his rendition of All the Things You Ain't!

Trams is smart - literally. The bassline like the title is played backwards! Troy is seemingly fond of compositional games. It swings.

The Waltz of Parting Days is suitably melancholic although if it is in waltz time it's not immediately apparent. It's still very listenable as is the whole album.

Of the 8 tracks Roberts composed 6. Not many tenor players around who can retain the lyricism of yesterday whilst heading for tomorrow - Troy Roberts is one such player.
Lance
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