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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.

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Strictly Smokin' Big Band @ Gosforth Civic Theatre - Dec 13

(Review by Russell)

At the last minute BSH Editor-in-Chief LL couldn't make it hence your reviewer being given the nod to come off the subs' bench. Listening to the Strictly Smokin' Big Band at Gosforth is hardly an arduous task! This was the first of two sold out nights, it's been that way for nine consecutive years! 

An evening comprising timeless GASbook numbers, the work of contemporary composers and arrangers, ancient carols and, of course, perennial singalong favourites performed by the Strictly Smokin' should be on everyone's bucket list. 

Winter Games opened the programme. Never in a month of Sundays could anyone have predicted the official anthem of the 1988 Winter Olympic Games in Calgary, Canada would be heard some thirty years later at a big band concert in Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne! Vocalist Alice Grace made an early appearance to sing The Late, Late Show (Ms Grace alluding to Nat Cole's late fifties' recording of the number). We would hear much more of AG during the evening singing Anita O'Day, Ella and more.  

A Bobby Watson chart made its way into the set list and the one member of the orchestra all but guaranteed to take on the alto part just had to be Keith Robinson. KR stood up, from first note to last, the floor was his. The 'jazz heads' in the audience were impressed. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (remember it's Christmas time) featured the mellifluous tones of Pete Tanton's flugelhorn. 

Alice Grace returned to the stage to sing a Chris Walden arrangement of Willow Weep for Me. Phrasing, timing, projecting to all parts of the hall, AG knocked 'em dead. And our adopted Geordie did it again singing Rodgers and Hammerstein's People Will Say We're in Love from Oklahoma! If that had been the sum total of AG's contribution it would have been worthwhile attending but there was more to come, much more.

The SSBB closed a fine first set with two carols - a Dick Stacey feature on O Holy Night (at its end fellow trumpeter Gordon Marshall gave DS a pat on the head!) - and an energetic (if the charts were marked 'con brio' or similar that would be about right) Joy to the World with a crystal clear contribution from guitarist Pawel Jedrzejewski. 

The interval: Brisk sales of the SSBB's new CD Christmas Live Gosforth Civic Theatre (December 2018) suggested loved ones were going to receive a much-appreciated gift in their Christmas stocking. 

Tenor saxophonist Jamie Toms contributed several assured, measured solos during the evening, not least as the band opened the second set with It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year. On a Christmas gig it would be understandable if a bandleader tailored the material to the occasion and, of course, MD Michael Lamb did just that, however, Coventry Carol (Steve Summers' committed alto solo) would have satisfied out and out, hardcore jazz fans any time of the year. This was a real highlight among highlights.

Irving Berlin, Alice Grace and Michael Lamb - now there's a winning combination! Yes, a solo blast from MD Lamb on I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm. And then there was AG singing Mel Tormé's Christmas Song (the trumpet section off stage, pianist Graham Don accompanist to Ms Grace). That''ll do, let's go home. No! Wait! MD Lamb was to introduce a surprise guest..

Direct from the London stage, local-lad-made-good, Mr Adam Dutton! Suited and booted, Dutton (resumé inc. Show BoatOliver! and My Fair Lady) joined Alice Grace to sing Frank Loesser's Baby, It's Cold Outside. It's fair to say the place went wild. As AG temporarily left the stage, Dutton, originally from Kenton, Newcastle, revealed this was his first visit to Gosforth Civic Theatre. Singing Caroling, Caroling with the band won the impressive Dutton a whole host of new fans. As our guest left the stage we were left wondering if that was Dutton's last contribution of the evening...

Duke Ellington's arrangement of Jingle Bells (Jamie Toms' tenor sax solo) added lustre to a lustrous occasion. Don't you just love jazz?!

And when the lights were low...Ms Grace and Mr Dutton returned to say goodnight singing Fairytale of New York. Everytime it's a winner. Dutton played his part, Grace hers and the audience couldn't resist singing along. And finally, Ms Grace had the stage to herself to conduct band and audience in a magical Last Christmas. Magical, indeed. 
Russell  
           
Alice Grace (vocals); Steve Summers, Keith Robinson, Jamie Toms, Dave Kerridge, Laurie Rangecroft (reeds); Gordon Marshall, Dick Stacey, Michael Lamb MD, Pete Tanton (trumpets); Kieran Parnaby, Mark Ferris, Chris Kurgi-Smith, John Flood (trombones); Graham Don (piano); Pawel Jedrzejewski (guitar); Michael Whent (bass guitar); Guy Swinton (drums) + Adam Dutton (vocals).

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