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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

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.
Fri 29: True Colours @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 9:00pm. Blues, jazz & swing.

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.

Thu 04: FILM: Soul @ Forum Cinema, Hexham. 2:00pm. Jazz-themed film animation.
Thu 04: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 04: Funky Drummer @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 04: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 04: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

CD Review: Voctave - Somewhere There's Music

Kate Lott, Tiffany Coburn, Ashley Espinoza, Sarah Whittemore, Chrystal Johnson, E. J.Cardona, Tony De Rosa, Kurt von Schmittou, Jacob C Fullerton, Karl Hudson (voices), Jamey Ray (voice/arrangements)
(Review by Lance)

I'll be honest and hold my hand up and admit that I wasn't in the mood for reviewing. I opted, instead, to relax with a game of computer chess (intermediate level). I decided some innocuous background noise would help my levels of concentration so I flipped this on to the player and went for a tried and tested Ruy Lopez opening. However, I hadn't got beyond P-K4 (e4 in algebraic notation) when Flash! Bang! Alakazam! chess was forgotten and I resigned before my robotic opponent had replied!

Yes, Orange Colored Sky was the opening number on the CD and the sound, the harmonies, the arrangement the amazing range of the singers had me reeling - this was the choir to end all choirs. Six men and five women from Central Florida singing 13 GASbook classics a cappella.

Maybe purists ancient and modern will dispute its jazz credibility, so be it, although if Jamey Ray's arrangements had been scored for instruments as opposed to voices they'd think differently! 

Listen to how On the Sunny Side of the Street is cleverly interwoven with Give Me the Simple Life.

Apart from the individual tracks there are two medleys. The first is dedicated to the Andrews Sisters - In the Mood; Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree; Sing, Sing, Sing; Mele Kalikimaka; Rum and Coca Cola & The Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy From Company B. The second is a tribute to Ella - How High the Moon; A-Tisket, A-Tasket & I'm Beginning to See the Light. Both are absolute killers!

Some numbers feature individuals. Kate Lott displays her amazing range and breath control on Smoke Gets in Your Eyes. Chrystal Johnson injects new life into My Funny Valentine and Karl Hudson impresses on I'll Be Seeing You.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow; Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah; Moon River; The Summer Knows and Smile are the other gems along with a bonus track - Won't You Be My Neighbor - a song related to Rollins College where Voctave were recently named as Artists-In-Residence.

Check this out - it's merely fantastic - on Spotify or try/buy samples.
Lance.

3 comments :

Liz said...

Quite wonderful, just loved it, where do you find these gems?

Lance said...

They find me!

Liz said...

And you pass the information on, must buy it thanks so much Lance!

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