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Bebop Spoken There

Kurt Elling: ''There's something to learn from every musician you play with''. (DownBeat, December 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

17586 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 860 of them this year alone and, so far, 5 this month (Dec. 2).

From This Moment On ...

December

Wed 11: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Cath Stephens’ improvisation workshop @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 4:30-6:00pm. Collaborative group focusing on vocal improvisations.
Wed 11: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 11: The Tannery Jam Session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Second Wednesday in the month.
Wed 11: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 12: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Spanish City, Whitley Bay. 12 noon. £27.00. (inc. three -course meal).
Thu 12: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:00-6:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Thu 12: Stuart Turner @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 12: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesborough. 8:30pm. Free. Guests: Jeremy McMurray (keys); Mark Toomey (alto sax); Donna Hewitt (tenor sax); Kevin Eland (trumpet); Ron Smith (bass).

Fri 13: Dean Stockdale Trio @ Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 13: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Bellavana @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 3:00-5:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Joe Steels Trio @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Customs House Big Band @ Stocksfield Community Association. 7:00pm. Featuring Ruth Lambert.
Fri 13: Paul Edis & Friends: A Jazzy Xmas @ St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook. 7:30pm. £15.00.
Fri 13: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £19.00. + bf. First night of two.
Fri 13: Ransom Van @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 13: Boys of Brass @ Hoochie Coochie, Newcastle. 9:00pm. £10.00.

Sat 14: Jambone @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:15pm. Free but ticketed.
Sat 14: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm.
Sat 14: Red Kites Jazz @ Staiths Café, Autumn Dr., Gateshead. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 14 Lapwing Jazz Trio @ Three Sheets to the Wind, Alnwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 14: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £19.00. + bf. Second night of two.
Sat 14: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 15: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 12 noon. £8.50. Xmas party feat. Musicians Unlimited + Customs House Big Band. SOLD OUT!
Sun 15: Paul Edis & Friends: A Jazzy Xmas @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 2:00pm.
Sun 15: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Mitch Laddie Band @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Superb blues power trio.
Sun 15: Leeway @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 15: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Paul Edis & Friends: A Jazzy Xmas @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.
Sun 15: Alligator Gumbo @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 16: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 16: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Wheatsheaf, Benton Sq., Whitley Road, Palmersville NE12 9SU. Tel: 0191 266 8137. 12 noon. £9.95. ‘Festive Turkey Dinner’. Book now: 0191 266 8137.
Mon 16: Paul Edis & Friends: A Jazzy Xmas @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.

Tue 17: Paul Edis & Friends: A Jazzy Xmas @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.
Tue 17: BBC Big Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. ‘A Swinging Xmas’.
Tue 17: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.
Tue 17: Bellavana @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 7:45-9:35pm. Free.

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

Tuesday, November 05, 2019

Mike Durham's Classic Jazz Party @ Village Hotel - Nov. 1


 Friday afternoon - Nov. 1
(Review by Russell)

Friday, day one proper of this year's 'classic jazz' era festival. The Village Hotel just off the A19 situated at the West Allotment northern end of a sprawling business park is able to accommodate up to three hundred festival goers in its spacious ballroom with, of course, three floors of well-appointed rooms, many of which were occupied by Classic Jazz Party musicians and fans alike.   

From ten in the morning the Classic Jazz Party's CD stall did its usual brisk business offering CDs (recorded by participating musicians and a huge selection of second hand items), a 'revolutionary' digital download card (!), books, magazines and associated jazz ephemera. Last minute rehearsals complete the doors opened some fifteen minutes before the noon downbeat. 

Tom 'Spats' Langham lead the annual Tribute to Mike curtain raiser. The legacy of the late Mike Durham, mastermind of the Whitley Bay Jazz Festival, lives on in the form of Mike Durham's International Classic Jazz Party. Tom Langham's talents as a musician, raconteur and wit complimented the occasion; remembrance, celebration and, naturally, jazz. Langham recalled the West Jesmond Rhythm King telling him he should learn Isham Jones' You've Got Me Crying, adding mischeviously, not in in the style of Bing Crosby, more like Elsie Carlisle! And so it was that Langham (guitar) sang the number. A fine, apposite tribute. 

The 2019 CJP (Classic Jazz Party) introduced a new element to proceedings with the presentation of the inaugural Young Talent Award to Colin Hancock. Cornetist Colin, from Texas, is, at 23, an exceptional talent and a deserving prize winner from a strong entry list. In a short ceremony Colin received his award from Anje Mueller-Fahmow with encouraging words of congratulation from Claus Jacobi and Patti Durham.

In less than four and a half hours a further six sets would take us up to the five o'clock dinner break. Jelly Roll Morton in other bands looked at the piano master's work other than sides recorded under his own name. From the New Orleans Rhythm Kings through to Wingy Manone it was down to one of the CJP's 'piano professors' to do justice to the iconic figure. Martin Litton led a USA-Europe eight piece included a Village Hotel return for Stéphane Gillot. The affable French reedsman more than held his own in such exalted company, company that included CJP favourite Duke Heitger (trumpet, USA). 

Clarence Williams' Blue Five lived up to its promise. Claus Jacobi's arrangements heard Lars Frank (reeds, Norway) 'doing a Bechet' on soprano sax and two CJP newbies - Torstein Kubban (trumpet, Norway) and the Chicago Cellar Boys' Dave Bock (trombone, USA) - slotting in as if veterans of the Whitley Bay weekend. 

Jimmie Noone's Apex Club Orchestra ensured the hotel's Inspiration Suite was at standing room only for an all-too-short half hour set. It was a Friday afternoon on North Tyneside but close your eyes and you could have been on Chicago's South Side as CJP regular Stéphane Gillot (reeds, France) led the session with Aussie reedsman Michael McQuaid making it a clarinet-soprano sax frontline supported by another debutant, the excellent Andrew Oliver (piano, USA), first timer Félix Hunot (banjo, guitar, France), local hero Phil Rutherford (tuba, Tyne Valley, England) and ever-youthful CJP fixture Nick Ball (drums). A two-clarinet feature on It's Tight Like That wrought a hotter than hot solo from McQuaid. 

Aussie McQuaid hung around to present another episode of New Orleans Echoes. Another stellar line-up for this set (they're all stellar combos, right across the three days) meant no one was going anywhere, not least due to the presence of the award-winning Colin Hancock. Sitting alongside his NYC buddy Mike Davis (trumpet) cornetist Hancock would later confess to BSH that he found the whole experience 'awesome'. Johnny De Droit's Number Two Blues was, said McQuaid, part Milenburg Joys, part Tiger Rag. They played it and so it was. Eddie Edwards' Sensation Rag topped off a super set. 

David Horniblow (reeds, Britain) and Andrew Oliver (piano, USA) looked at more atypical material in their Rare Jelly Roll Morton set with the duo's recent The Complete Morton Project recording a source of inspiration. 

To close Friday afternoon's programme Josh Duffee put together more material from one of his key influences, Jean Goldkette, in Jean Goldkette - Waiting for Bix. Music pre-Bix Beiderbecke required the participation of the big guns. The American contingent alone was worth hearing - bandleader Josh Duffee (drums), Andy Schumm (cornet), Mike Davis (trumpet), Dave Bock (trombone), David Boeddinghaus (piano) and vocalist Joan Viskant. The addition of the Brits Emma Fisk (violin), Richard Exall (reeds), Phil Rutherford (tuba), Frenchman Stéphane Gillot (reeds) and Henry Lemaire (string bass) and London based Australian Michael McQuaid (reeds) to the line-up staked a claim for the finest assembly of 'classic jazz' era exponents anywhere on Planet Earth. As the set developed Crystal Duffee (flute, USA), Andrew Oliver (piano, USA) and the Brits trombonist Alistair Allan and Malcolm Sked (string bass) joined the ensemble. It was a wonderful large ensemble performance which included one piece - I Got the Girl - for the two pianos of Boeddinghaus and Andrew Oliver. 
Russell.         

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