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Bebop Spoken There

Simon Spillett: “ Bebop and hard bop came naturally to him [Tubby Hayes]". Morning Star, March 28, 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

16287 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 169 of them this year alone and, so far, 41 this month (Mar 18).

From This Moment On ...

March

Fri 29: FILM: Soul @ The Forum Cinema, Hexham. 12:30pm. Jazz-themed film animation.
Fri 29: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 29: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 29: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 29: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 6:00pm. Free. POSTPONED!
Fri 29: Thundercat @ Newcastle City Hall.
Fri 29: John Logan @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 29: True Colours @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 9:00pm. Blues, jazz & swing.

Sat 30: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 30: Pete Tanton’s Cuba Libre @ Whitley Bay Library, York Road, Whitley Bay. 8:00pm.

Sun 31: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay Metro Station. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 31: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields NE30 1HJ. 3:00pm. Free. Lambert, Alan Law & Paul Grainger.
Sun 31: Sid Jacobs & Tom Remon @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. USA/London jazz guitar duo.
Sun 31: Bellavana @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

April
Mon 01: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 01: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 3:00pm. Free.

Tue 02: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Dean Stockdale, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 03: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 03: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 03: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 04: FILM: Soul @ Forum Cinema, Hexham. 2:00pm. Jazz-themed film animation.
Thu 04: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 04: Funky Drummer @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 04: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 04: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Monday, December 09, 2019

Jason Isaacs @ Hoochie Coochie - Dec. 8

(Review by Lance).

Last Sunday it was Michael Bublé knocking ‘em dead at The Arena. This Sunday it was Jason Isaacs knocking ‘em dead at Hoochie Coochie. Both venues were packed to capacity and deservedly so.

Just as it had been at The Arena there was a buzz of anticipation about Hoochie. Chris, a charming lady sitting next to me, told me she’d once fallen asleep watching Rod Stewart in Las Vegas. I told her you didn’t need to go to Vegas to fall asleep listening to Rod Stewart and promised her she wouldn’t fall asleep listening to Jason. Nobody sleeps at Hoochie Coochie! 

Conversation ceased as the unmistakeable intro to Cry Me a River signified the show had begun.

Julie London stamped her authority so powerfully on this song that few girl singers can top it. However, as Bublé proved last week, it takes on a different identity with the gender change and Jason moved comfortably into the Bublé ball park.

A high-kicking Bad, Bad, Leroy Brown had the feet tapping and the hips shaking whilst The Way You Look Tonight reminded me just what a great and romantic song this is.

It being Christmas – so they tell me – a seasonal song was called for and we got Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow although nobody hoped that it actually would snow even though we were, supposedly dreaming of a White Christmas but, That’s Life (bit of audience participation on this one).

This was another fun night. Maybe it wasn’t/isn’t jazz as we think of it today more as they knew it at The Cotton Club or the Savoy in Harlem back in the day. To prove it, Jason dusted off his tenor sax for that old jazz classic Why Don’t You Do Right? Jayboy blows good tenor although he is the first to admit he comes in second when he jousts with Lewis Watson as he did later (see photo).

The seemingly inevitable American Trilogy never fails to make me cringe but, by the same token, the powerful arrangement offers something in the way of compensation.

And so the show rolled on Beyond the Sea; Mr BojanglesBrand New Day; Sway; King of the Road; Mack the Knife; Can’t Take my Eyes off You; Go, You’re Indestructible; Never Gonna Give You Up; Jump, Jive, Wail; Sweet Caroline; Suspicious Minds; Burnin’ Love and the crowd pleaser which had just about everyone on their feet - New York, New York. One of these days he will substitute New York, New York with Newcastle, Newcastle. Yesterday would have been a good time as United had just beaten Southampton – the opportunity may never come again!

And then it was all over except it wasn’t – this crowd weren’t going to let him take an early bath – and the pink-suited hero of the hour returned to tell us that Everybody Needs Somebody.

A predictable but nonetheless enjoyable evening.
Lance 
Jason Isaacs (vocals/tenor sax); Darren Irwin, Mark Webb (trumpets); Dave Brock (trombone); Niall Armstrong (alto sax/clarinet/flute); Lewis Watson (tenor sax/flute); Stu Collingwood (piano); Neil Harland (bass); Simon Ferry (drums).

1 comment :

Liz said...

How fortunate you are up there to have such performers as Jason Isaacs, nothing like that here in York!

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