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Bebop Spoken There

Spasmo Brown: “Jazz is an ice cream sandwich! It's the Fourth of July! It's a girl with a waterbed!”. (Syncopated Times, July, 2024).

The Things They Say!

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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

17444 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 718 of them this year alone and, so far, 100 this month (Oct. 10).

From This Moment On ...

October

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law (piano), Paul Grainger (double bass), Bailey Rudd (drums).

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Cath Stephens’ improvisation workshop @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 4:30-6:00pm. Collaborative group focusing on vocal improvisations.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 17: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 17: Olivia Cuttill Quintet @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 17: Moonlight Serenade Orchestra UK: Glenn Miller & Big Band Spectacular @ Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm.
Thu 17: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. Ragtime piano. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 17: Niffi Osiyemi Trio @ The Harbour View, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 17: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesborough. Guests Jeremy McMurray (keys); Richie Emmerson (tenor sax); Mark Toomey (alto sax); Adrian Beadnell (bass). 8:30pm. Free.

Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 18: Hot Club du Nord @ St Cuthbert’s, Crook. 7:30pm.
Fri 18: Chet Set @ Seventeen Nineteen, Hendon, Sunderland. 7:30pm. Pete Tanton & co.
Fri 18: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. Doors 7:30pm (upstairs). A Hoodoo Blues dance & social event. £10.00. class & social (£10.00., £7.50., £5.00. social only). Michael Woods (country blues guitar) on stage 9:00pm.
Fri 18: East Coast Swing Band @ Hexham Abbey. 7:30pm. £9.00.
Fri 18: Ben Crosland Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 18: Durham University Jazz Society’s ‘High Standards’ @ Music Dept. Music Room, Divinity House, Palace Green, Durham University DH1 3RS. 8:009-30pm. Tel: 0191 334 1419. £7.00., £5.00.
Fri 18: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Blues Underground, Nelson St., Newcastle. 9:00pm. Free.

Sat 19: Sat 19: Paula Jackman’s Jazz Masters @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club.
Jeff Hewer Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 19: Howlin’ Mat @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Country blues guitar & vocals. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 20: Kamasi Washington @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. POSTPONED! New date Saturday 5 April 2025.
Sun 20: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: Magpies of Swing @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 21: Gideon Tazelaar Quartet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00.
Mon 21: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 21: Gideon Tazelaar Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm.

Tue 22: Bywater Call @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). Americana/blues/soul excellence.

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

Monday, December 09, 2019

CD Review: Paul Edis & Friends - On Christmas Day

(Review by Russell)

On Christmas Day as gifts are unwrapped, champagne sipped and sprouts prepared it would be a splendid idea to listen to On Christmas Day. The new album by Paul Edis and a stocking full of talented friends is a seasonal delight but shouldn't be consigned to the 'once a year' section of your CD collection, on the contrary, pianist, composer and arranger Edis' album isn't just for Christmas, it's for any and every day of the year!

The majority of the album's thirteen tracks are bona fide classic numbers, two are of more recent pop chart vintage and there is an original penned by bandleader Edis with lyrics by Kate Edis. The eleven-strong ensemble does Edis proud; flawless performances from all ranging from established names Jo Harrop, Matt Anderson, Graham Hardy, Jason Holcomb, Emma Fisk, Edis' regular trio partners Andy Champion and Russ Morgan to rising stars Faye Thompson, Megan Robinson and Francis Tulip.  


Recorded over two days in August, Edis' masterful arrangements bring out the best in the ensemble. From the opening Let it Snow (S. Cahn/J. Styne) with its New Orleans' shuffle feel (solos from Matt Anderson, soprano sax and Andy Champion, bass) to a sublime Paul Edis-Jo Harrop duo rendition of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (R. Blane/H. Martin) to The Christmas Song (M. Tormé/R. Wells) to the closing number, Frank Loesser's What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?On Christmas Day is a sparkling offering decked in holly, tinsel and musical angels. 

Santa Baby (J. Javits/P. Springer) is pure Basie and pure Edis in its arrangement with Jo Harrop's reading of Philip Stringer's lyrics arguably as good as any since Eartha Kitt. Edis' Merry Christmas on Christmas Day features the composer's vocals supported by a sensitive, supportive ensemble cast. The final track, some sixty minutes in, is a fine ensemble piece - What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? - a real late night, indeed, end of year affair. 

On Christmas Day by Paul Edis & Friends is an album that should be in the collection of every jazz fan. Come to think of it, anyone who appreciates the craft of arranging, writing and performing should acquire a copy, it's that good!

The album was recorded, engineered and mastered by the redoubtable Adam Sinclair. It was produced by Paul Edis and Adam Sinclair. On Christmas Day on the Edis Music label is available from: www.pauledis.co.uk and at gigs. The good news is, just in time for Christmas, you have no fewer than four opportunities to hear Paul Edis and  Friends in concert reprising last year's sell out show A Jazzy Christmas (and buy a copy of the CD!) at Middlesbrough Town Hall (Dec 15, 2:00pm), Ushaw College (Dec 20, 7:30pm) and two performances at Sage Gateshead (Dec 21, 2:00pm & 8:00pm). 
Russell    

Paul Edis (MD, piano, vocals); Jo Harrop (vocals); Matt Anderson (tenor sax, soprano sax); Graham Hardy (trumpet, flugelhorn); Jason Holcomb (trombone); Emma Fisk (violin); Faye Thompson (alto sax, clarinet); Megan Robinson (flute, piccolo); Francis Tulip (guitar); Andy Champion (double bass); Russ Morgan (drums)        

1 comment :

Hugh said...

Listened to this On Christmas Day, as instructed. Excellent accompaniment to th festivities.

Congratulations to Paul Edis and Friends on an excellent album.

And continuing festive greetings to all on BSH. All the best for good vision in 2020!

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