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Bebop Spoken There

Béla Fleck: “ And that's the great thing about live performances, you take people on a journey. It doesn't have to be like something else they've heard. It's not supposed to be". DownBeat, April, 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

Thu 28: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 28: Gateshead Jazz Appreciation Society @ Gateshead Central Library, Gateshead. 2:30pm.
Thu 28: Richard Herdman Quartet @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 28: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Guests: Josh Bentham (alto sax); Alan Marshall (tenor sax); Neil Brodie (trumpet); Adrian Beadnell (bass); Graham Thompson (keys); Steve Hunter (drums).

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.

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.

Saturday, December 07, 2019

Kyriaki (Kyra) Pantelidou & Bradley Johnston Duo - Viatores (travellers) @ Gala Theatre, Durham – Dec. 6

Kyriaki (Kyra) Pantelidou (voice); Bradley Johnston (guitars).
(Review by Roly Veitch/Photos courtesy of Malcolm Sinclair)

Have you ever gone to a concert to hear someone you’ve not heard before, wondering what it would be like and then come away at the end thinking “I’m so glad I went to that”? This was one of those magical moments.

Kyra graduated from the Sage B Mus. course last year and returned to her home in Cyprus. Paul Edis, who organises the Gala lunchtime concerts, invited her back especially for this recital, her only performance on this short visit. I don’t doubt she will be back and probably touring. She deserves to be as this, the music, was of the highest calibre. 

In an intimate duo setting along with Bradley Johnston on guitar, the pair took us on a journey through the finest of GASbook material mixed with songs from France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Greece. A mix of western and world music that was a total delight from start to finish.

Playing at almost acoustic level Johnston provided impeccable accompaniment, alternating between his electric Benson jazz guitar and an acoustic Selmer style gypsy jazz instrument.  Considering that these instruments have a very different feel and need very different plectrums, I had to admire the flawless execution, all played with a nod to the Joe Pass virtuoso solo style which he has totally mastered. The music they performed also offered up flamenco, bossa, waltz, gypsy style, and the final gentle song in a lilting 5/4 time.

With Kyra we have the combination of a beautiful, sensitive singing voice delivered in a most engaging fashion by a charming young lady. Perfect! You could hear a pin drop.

Speaking from my own perspective, so often these days music is quite loud, sometimes very loud. I do believe that music played well at the quietest level, where you get a feeling of a one to one relationship with the artist, is the loveliest thing to experience and for me has much more impact than decibels. As you’ll gather from my comments this is just what the audience experienced here. What a treat!

The eclectic set list: J’ai Deux Amour (Scotto, Koger, Varna); Sophisticated Lady (Ellington); Una Notte A Napoli (Lauderdale, Forbes); Samba De Uma Nota So (Jobim, Mendonca); Misty (Garner); I Am So Sorry (Giannides/Spyropoulos /Papadoukas); (No Habra Nadie en el Mundo (Buika); Black Orpheus (Bonfa); Tu Vuo Fa L’Americano (Carosone); Someone to Watch Over Me (G & I Gershwin); Besame Mucho (Evora); Lush Life (Strayhorn); Ta Stefana Ta Amilita (Cacoyannis/Pampos). 
Roly

3 comments :

Patti (on F/b) said...

Ah - I wish I could have gone to this gig! Please do it again, Kyriaki and Bradley! xx

Kyriaki Pantelidou (on F/b) said...

Patti Durham I wish I could come back soon!

Bradley Johnston (on F/b). said...

You will, Kyriaki x

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