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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

15229 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 248 of them this year alone and, so far, 61 this month (March 20).

From This Moment On ...

March

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Traveller's Rest, Cockerton. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public). Note change of venue - CANCELLED CEILING COLLAPSED!
Wed 22: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:00pm.
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thu 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 4:00-6:00pm. Free.
Thu 23: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Bar Loco, Newcasatle. From 6:30pm 'til late. Free. Newcastle University Jazz Orchestra jam session. All welcome (students & non-students).
Thu 23: Kerrin Tatman + John Garner & John Pope @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Thu 23: Sunna Gunnlaugs & Julia Hülsmann @ Sage Gateshead. 8:00pm. A two-piano gig. A Sage Gateshead-JNE promotion.
Thu 23: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Ragtime piano.
Thu 23: Sleep Suppressor @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £10.00., £8.00. adv. Upstairs.
Thu 23: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.
Fri 24: FILM: Mo' Better Blues @ Forum Cinema, Hexham. 7:00pm.
Fri 24: Ian Millar & Dominic Spencer @ Scarth Hall, Staindrop, Co. Durham. 8:00pm. £10.00.
Fri 24: Archipelago + Bulbils @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.

Sat 25: Vermont Big Band @ Walker Community Centre, Walker, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Fundraiser for Benfield Juniours Football Club. Hot food available, BYOB.
Sat 25: John Logan & Friends @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Rat Pack, Motown etc. 8:00pm. Free (donations).

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited @ Park Inn, Hartlepool. 1:00pm.
Sun 26: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 3:00pm.
Sun 26: Outlines @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. JNE promotion (upstairs).

Mon 27: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.

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 @ Black Swan, Newcastle Arts Centre. 8:00pm. £12.00 (£10.00. adv).

Saturday, February 22, 2020

Newcastle University Jazz @ Culture Lab, Newcastle - Feb 21

(Review by Russell)

On a rainy, windblown Friday evening just off Barras Bridge, Culture Lab's discreet door stood ajar ready to welcome those who were interested in hearing a newly formed band's debut performance. Jason Holcomb has been busy assembling a big band to take its place alongside the region's many fine jazz orchestras. Newcastle University Jazz is the name, a name which could easily cause confusion given that the long-established, on-campus student band is known as Newcastle University Jazz Orchestra! 


It isn't unusual to find a new outfit short on numbers in one section and perhaps oversubscribed in another. This was the case with Newcastle University Jazz - four reeds, just the three 'bones, six trumpets and a regulation compliment in the engine room of guitar, piano, bass and drums. MD Holcomb explained the remit; a professionally-led, educational ensemble offering performance opportunities to young musicians.   

Oliver Nelson's Emancipation Blues introduced Newcastle University jazz to the world. A white-jacketed Holcomb conducted his charges with no little enthusiasm, clearly delighted with the sound emanating from the stage in Culture Lab's Ballroom. Trumpeter Joe Fleet will remember the occasion as he was the first to step up to the plate. Collective nerves settled, NU Jazz romped through Sweet Georgia Brown (comp. Ben Bernie) with Chris Fox (tenor sax) in the spotlight.  

MD Holcomb's set list drew on the many decades of material utilised by big bands the world over. Harlem Nocturne composed by Hagen and Rogers for Ray Noble and a Sammy Nestico arrangement of Fly Me to the Moon enabled the band's section work to be heard by an attentive Friday evening audience. Gershwin's Fascinating Rhythm and Quincy Jones' For Lena and Lenny (arr. S. Nestico) maintained the familiarity which was a good idea. Familiar material, well-executed solos (NU Jazz's soloists included equally familiar faces - recent graduate Sam Fox playing tenor sax and undergradute trumpeter Tom Alcorn who doesn't shy away from the top C stuff, to name but two), all in all things were shaping up well.

MD Holcomb took time to name-check the ensemble before going out on Venon Duke's April in Paris and Juan Tizol's rabble-rousing Caravan. Newcastle University Jazz can be heard at Newcastle Jazz Co-op's Railway St HQ on March 15. 
Russell

Newcastle University Jazz: Jason Holcomb MD; Tom Alcorn, Oli Heath, Jasmine Smith, Lisa Davison, Abigail Brierley, Joe Fleet (trumpets); Laura Davison, Kate Garnett, Alex Utting (trombones); Sam Fox, David Johnson, Chris Fox, Ted Mitchell (saxophones); Lukas Carey (guitar); Alys John (keyboards); George Comber (bass guitar); Alex Reid (drums) 

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