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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

17630 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 904 of them this year alone and, so far, 49 this month (Dec. 20).

From This Moment On ...

December

Fri 20: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 20: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 20: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 1:00-3:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 20: Baghdaddies @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 20: Smokin’ Spitfires @ Platform 1, East Bedlington Community Centre. 7:00pm.
Fri 20: Pete Tanton’s Christmas @ 1719, Hendon, Sunderland. 7:30pm. CANCELLED!
Fri 20: Alligator Gumbo @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 20: Abbie Finn’s Finntet @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 20: Brass Fiesta @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 10:30pm. Free.

Sat 21: Lindsay Hannon Quartet @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £15.00. ‘Swinging with Christmas Songs’.
Sat 21: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 21: Jackson’s Wharf Xmas Party @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 7:00pm. Free. Featuring the New ’58 Jazz Collective.
Sat 21: Brass Fiesta @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 10:30pm. Free.

Sun 22: Hot Club du Nord @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £15.00. + bf. Xmas party. SOLD OUT!
Sun 22: Red Kites Jazz @ Gibside Chapel, nr. Rowlands Gill. 1:00pm. Admission charge applies.
Sun 22: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 22: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: Revolutionaires @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Superb rhythm & blues outfit.
Sun 22: Laurence Harrison, Paul Grainger & Mark Robertson @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Line-up TBC.
Sun 22: The Globe Xmas Party @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Live music (musicians TBC).
Sun 22: Ray Stubbs R & B All-Stars @ Zerox, Sandhill, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors).

Mon 23: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Wheatsheaf, Benton Sq., Whitley Road, Palmersville NE12 9SU. Tel: 0191 266 8137. 1:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Mon 23: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 4:00pm. Free.
Mon 23: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Mon 23: Milne-Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.

Tue 24: Lindsay Hannon & Mark Williams @ Ernest, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 11:00am-1:00pm. Free.
Tue 24: Paul Skerritt @ Mambo Wine & Dine, South Shields. 1:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.

Wed 25: Wot? No jazz!

Thu 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free. TBC.
Thu 26: The Boneshakers @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. The 17th annual Boneshakers’ Shindig.

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, 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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