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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.

Friday, November 22, 2019

CD Review: DIVA Jazz Orchestra - DIVA + The Boys

(Review by Lance)

DIVA + The Boys sees the Pittsburgh based all girls big band lure four of their male counterparts into a live session at the Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild which is on 1815 Metropolitan St in Pittsburgh PA and not to be confused with any craftsmen’s guilds in Manchester UK.

If the guys thought they were in for an easy time of it they hadn’t reckoned on the DIVAS!

Ken Peplowski is, without doubt, my favourite clarinettist and what better stomping ground for him than Goodman’s Slipped Disc? DIVA Janelle Reichman obviously thought she could handle it too and, with the powerhouse band behind her she pushed Ken to a split decision – listeners, the verdict is up to you!

Jobim’s A Felicidade had Claudio Roditi on trumpet – he blows pretty good for a man - as well as some lovely tenor from Roxy Cross.

Deference to Diz was bebop with Peplowski, Roditi and trombonist Jay Ashby strutting down 52nd St. as if it were 1945. They didn’t have it all their own way though, Tomoko Ohno slotted in a piano solo that Dodo Marmoroso would have been proud of. 

Jay Ashby blew mellow on Nocturna – maybe the best tram sound around these days. Urbie Green used to get that sound. Marty Ashby allowed brother Jay the spotlight content with adding a Freddie Green like presence to the rhythm section.

The One I Love Belongs to Somebody Else is meat and potatoes to Peplowski but the gravy was added by DIVA’s Jami Dauber on trumpet with Ohno making her presence felt. Peplowski returned to take it out as the pot simmered with the band goosing him along – listen to the trumpet section behind him!

Piccolo Blues and Roditi blew piccolo trumpet which didn’t sound that much different to a standard Bb trumpet – still good though. The girls threw Jennifer Krupa into the arena and her trombone playing took no prisoners. Likewise Alexis Tarantino who, apart from playing lead alto, flute and clarinet throughout the session, sizzled on sop sax on this one.

Peplowski displayed his clarinet wizardry on Estate although the beautiful picture his notes painted didn’t equate with any of the estates near me – how do you insert graffiti into a piece of music? Who needs it anyway?

Bucket of Blues. The boys had been sent home with a goodnight kiss and five red hot saxophone mamas took centre stage, spurred on by drummer/leader Sherrie Maricle who launched the Five Sisters into orbit. This was a musical cat fight with Tarantino and Scheila Gonzales on altos, Reichman and Cross on tenors and Leigh Pilzer on bari.

Great album – all my fantasies have come true!
Lance.

Samples.

Personnel not mentioned: Tanya Darby, Rachel Therrien, Barbara Laranga (trumpet/flugel); Linda Landis, Leslie Havens (trombones); Nurika Uedda (bass)

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