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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.

Tuesday, March 31, 2020

CD Review: Clairdee - A Love Letter to Lena

(Review by Lance)

Although a new name to me, Clairdee has three previous albums to her credit and, on the strength of this tribute to Lena Horne, I guess I'll be checking them out.

When we think of jazz singers, Ella, Billie, Sarah, Anita automatically come to mind. We may pause for a while before we add Lena to the list although she deservedly belongs in that exclusive group. However, she also had pop hits (Love me or Leave me, A New Fangled Tango etc.) as well a Hollywood career and, later, success as a cabaret artist and a TV personality all of which may have served to distance her from the jazz audience if not the performers.


Clairdee makes no attempt to sound like Lena - who could? However, she is a distinctive stylist in her own right and, like Lena, very much a civil rights activist. 

There are also interludes of quotes from Lena, narrated very effectively by Margo Hall, that add a sense of theatre to the album and, overall, I think it is an album that the lady herself would have given a nod of approval.

Regina Carter guests on Believe in Yourself - a track that erupts into a gospel inspired frenzy. The backing trio are solid throughout and the backing vocals add to the ambiance but the star, apart from the legacy of Lena Horne, is Clairdee. A soulful voice, rich and resonant I think I'll subtitle this review as "A (musical) Love Letter to Clairdee" 

Old Devil Moon; Home (spoken interlude); I Got a Name; Maybe; Hollywood (spoken interlude); Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child; Seminar With Drinks (spoken interlude); I Want to be Happy; Soul Mates (spoken interlude); Something to Live For; I'm Free (spoken interlude); Believe in Yourself; The Movement (spoken interlude).

Clairdee (vocal); Jon Herbst (piano/keys); Ron Belcher or Doug Miller  (bass); Deszon Claiborne or Lance Dresser (drums); John Hoy or Dave Bell (guitar); Mario Guarnieri (trumpet); Charles McNeal (tenor sax); Philip Santos (violin); Emily Onderdonk (viola); Paul Hale (cello); Ashling Cole, Bryan Dyer, Zoe Ellis (backing vocals); Tony Lindsay, Janice Maxie-Reid, Kenny Washington (guest vocalists); Regina Carter (violin); Margo Hall (narrator).

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