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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

15245 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 264 of them this year alone and, so far, 77 this month (March 25).

From This Moment On ...

March

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 + Abbie Finn @ 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: Castillo Nuevo @ Revolución de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30-8:30pm.
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: Castillo Nuevo @ Revolución de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30-8:30pm.
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.

April
Sat 01: The Big Easy @ St Augustine's Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm.
Sat 01: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. Tutor: Steve Glendinning - In a Minor Key. £25.00. Enrol at: www.jazz.coop.
Sat 01: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington Covered Market, Darlington DL1 5PN. 6:00pm. New venue, live jazz!
Sat 01: Boys of Brass @ Stack, Seaburn. 7:00-9:00pm.
Sat 01: Hot Club du Nord @ Pleased to Meet You, Bridge St., Morpeth. 8:00pm. £79.00. A charity fundraising event.
Sat 01: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00. RESCHEDULED to next week (Sat 08).

Sun 02: Smokin' Spitfires @ The Cluny. 12:45pm.
Sun 02: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 3:00pm.

Mon 03: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Alice Grace Quartet @ Blaydon Jazz Club - Dec 15

Alice Grace (vocals); Mark Williams (guitar); Paul Grainger (double bass); Rob Walker (drums)
(Review by Russell/Photo courtesy of Roly V).

It was a Christmas party tinged with sadness. The Black Bull's publican in the 1980s, Pauline Haley, died earlier in the day and it was down to Roly Veitch to break the news to an audience there to enjoy a festive occasion. Blaydon Jazz Club accepted Pauline's offer to present concerts on a regular basis, that was 36 years ago and the jazz continues to this day. It was to be an evening of seasonal jazz and memories of Pauline who was there from the beginning.

Three numbers - Take the A TrainI've Got My Love to Keep Me WarmTeach Me Tonight - got things going. Down the years they've been heard many times in Blaydon and, with Alice Grace on stage singing them, the thought occurred that they will be heard many more times in the future.              

The Alice Grace Quartet comprising Ms Grace, Mark Williams, guitar, Paul Grainger, bass and drummer Rob Walker presented a set of GASbook numbers and timeless Christmas classics. Guitarist Williams' prodigious technique enables him to produce the goods whatever the setting - The One I Love Belongs to Somebody Else (comp. I. Jones/lyrics G. Kahn) being a perfect example; a solo of deft, flowing lines and chordal complexity in accompaniment to our star vocalist. A fine first set concluded with Ms Grace's immaculate take on Devil May Care.

Christmas at Blaydon is known not only for top class jazz (it goes without saying) but also for its bumper buffet. By tradition Blaydon Jazz Club supporters bring a small (some not so small!) contribution. This year's feast didn't disappoint with some going back for seconds! Raffle meister Mike knows how to conduct a raffle. Built like a prop forward, Mike's booming voice does, shall we say, 'encourage' one and all to participate. This is one aspect of the jazz economy that Blaydon Jazz Club has down to a fine art! 

Second set: Alice Grace didn't know Pauline, however, having listened to Roly Veitch speak so movingly about his friend, our bandleader found the right words in dedicating God Bless the Child to the memory of Pauline Haley. The quartet produced a fine reading of a much loved song. Thank you Alice. 

Mel Tormé's Christmas Song reminded us of the time of year with Alice's fabulous vocals and Mark's chiming chordal work setting the scene. The boys in the engine room were possibly feeling a little neglected, after all, Alice was the star attraction and Mark had taken his turn in the spotlight. Time to remedy the situation - first drummer Rob Walker soloing on Honeysuckle Rose then bassist Paul stepping up on On the Street Where You Live. Good stuff, no question, but, you know it, don't you boys? Alice was, and is, the star!

Alice Grace is in the top echelon of jazz vocalists and possesses the rare ability to scat with consummate ease. To close the evening Ms Grace sang No Moon at All - phrasing, scatting, connecting with the audience, this was jazz at its best.  
Russell.   

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