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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!

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

17470 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 744 of them this year alone and, so far, 49 this month (Oct. 23).

From This Moment On ...

October

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 23: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 23: Daniel John Martin w. Swing Manouche @ The Old Library, Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland. 6:30pm. £12.00. (at the door, no advance sales).
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 24: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 24: John Garner & Tobias Sarra @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 24: Gateshead Jazz Appreciation Society @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. ‘Desert Island Discs’.
Thu 24: Daniel John Martin w. Swing Manouche @ Holy GrAle, Durham. 7:00pm. Free (donations). Thu 24: Jeremy McMurray & the Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm.
Thu 24: Faye MacCalman + John Pope Quintet + Moonfish @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. Donations.
Thu 24: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 24: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesborough. Guests: Kevin Eland (trumpet), Neil Brodie (trumpet), Dave Archbold (keys), Adrian Beadnell (bass), Mark Hawkins (drums). 8:30pm. Free.

Fri 25: Daniel John Martin w. Swing Manouche @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 25: Russ Morgan Quartet @ Gala Theatre, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 25: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 25: The Clare Teal Five @ Gala Theatre, Durham. 7:30pm. £25.00. All-star line-up.
Fri 25: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 26: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 2:30-4:15pm. Free.
Sat 26: Donny McCaslin @ The Engine Room, Tanners’ Bank, North Shields. 3:30pm. £15.00. + bf. McCaslin ‘In Conversation’, focusing on his association with David Bowie. Kevin Armstrong (David Bowie) will read from his biography.
Sat 26: Donny McCaslin Quartet @ The 1856 Exchange, North Shields. 7:00pm. £25.00. + bf. Standing gig with limited seating at the bar. McCaslin with his American quartet in North Shields!
Sat 26: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £3.00. +bf.
Sat 26: Jude Murphy & Dan Stanley @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 27: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 27: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 27: Daniel John Martin w. Swing Manouche @ Queen’s Hall (Library), Hexham. 3:00pm. Sun 27: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free. Rescheduled to Sunday 3rd November.
Sun 27: Paul Skerritt @ The Black Candle, Dean Road, Westoe, South Shields. From 5:30pm. To reserve a table call 07724 234449. ‘Jazz by Candlelight’.
Sun 27: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 27: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn Community Theatre. 7:30pm. £12.00., £10.00.
Sun 27: Daniel John Martin w. Swing Manouche @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 28: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 28: Sue Ferris Quintet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00.

Tue 29: ???

Wed 30: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 30: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 30: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. 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

Thursday, December 19, 2019

Dance band days remembered

On the site of the old Mayfair Ballroomstands a nondescript entertainment complex. The Gate houses a multiplex cinema, countless eateries and a dimly lit 'Spoons. Today, standing outside the glass fronted building was one of Newcastle's better buskers (see photo). The tunes were familiar - a seasonal Jingle Bells segueing into Careless Whisper - but it was the alto saxophonist's improvisational skills which, not for the first time, caught the ear. 

The Mayfair Ballroom hosted its share of dance bands during the sixties and seventies including the renowned Don Smith band. A small plaque mounted high on an exterior wall commemorates the date Led Zeppelin performed in concert. Now, some half a century later, the Mayfair and that of another, nearby, legendary venue, are about to experience something of a revival of interest. Adjacent to the Gate on Newgate Street are two recently opened bar/restaurant ventures, one called 'The Mayfair', the other 'La Dolce Vita'.        
Russell

1 comment :

NeilC said...

Oh happy memories a regular visitor to both venues in the day . Really miss the Mayfair when I think of the nights I spent there and the bands I saw . I loved the Pop up at the Dolci then down to the station to the first Wimpy Bar and the all night bus home. Downstairs was cabaret recall that the New Faces acts played there as they won a contract to tour the Bailey clubs of which Dolci was one . Remember Showaddywaddy being there, the stage was so small and there was 9 of them plus their gear a real challenge .

I also recall the Newcastle players being regular visitors and unlike now they were expected to pay . Recall Supermac just strolling in and the lady collecting the money asking him to pay to which he replied with the standard " Don't you know who I am ?" The retort was priceless " I don't care if you're Houdini you still have to pay" . Angry I can remember him fishing a load of money out of his pocket and throwing it on the counter and then off into the club .

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