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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.

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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