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Bebop Spoken There

Art Blakey: "You [Bobby Watson] don't want to play too long, because you don't know they're clapping because they're glad you finished!" - (JazzTimes, Nov. 2019)..

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

15848 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 855 of them this year alone and, so far, 53 this month (Sept. 18).

From This Moment On ...

September

Thu 21: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 21: La Malbec Orchestra @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Thu 21: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Ragtime piano. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.
Thu 21: Linsday Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Harbour View, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 21: Ray Stubbs R & B All Stars @ The Schooner, Gateshead. 8:30pm. Free.
Thu 21: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Fri 22: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 22: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 22: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.
Fri 22: Brief Encounter @ Bardon Mill Village Hall, Northumberland. 7:00pm. Tickets: £10.00. adv from 07885 303166; £12.00. on the door. Chris & Veronica Perrin improvising to a screening of the 1929 'Jazz Age' silent film Piccadilly (Dir. Ewald André Dupont).
Fri 22: Paul Edis & Graeme Wilson + Three Tsuru Origami @ Jesmond United Reformed Church, Newcastle. 7:30pm. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Fri 22: Crooners @ Tyne Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm.
Fri 22: Abbie Finn's Finntet @ Traveller's Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.

Sat 23: Tyne Valley Big Band @ Tanfield Railway, Gateshead. 2:00-4:00pm. Free. A '1940s Weekend' event.
Sat 23: Jason Isaacs @ Stack, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free.
Sat 23: Andrew Porritt & Keith Barrett @ Cullercoats Watch House, Front St., Cullercoats NE30 4QB. 7:00pm.
Sat 23: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig. Country blues.

Sun 24: Musicians Unlimited @ Park Inn, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.

Mon 25: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Mon 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 7:00pm.

Tue 26: Paul Skerritt @ The Rabbit Hole, Hallgarth St., Durham DH1 3AT. 7:00pm. Paul Skerritt's (solo) weekly residency.

Wed 27: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 27: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 27: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Friday, March 13, 2020

CD Review: Lizzie Thomas – New Sounds From The Jazz Age

(Review by Ann Alex)

Ms Thomas studied classical piano and clarinet as a child, then went on to do a degree in vocal performance, and to study Music Education at Belmont University, Nashville. She honed her craft under the influence of Sandra Dudley before moving to New York City where she has performed at clubs, restaurants, and private parties as well as holding down a residency in Soho, New York City for 9 years. This is her fourth album.

And this album certainly does what it says on the tin. New lively interpretations of 9 jazz standards.

Fascinating Rhythm, an appropriate song to introduce the concept of jazz, starts with a swirl from piano, the rarely-sung verse, then a fast chorus, changing to sultry chords associated with strip joints (I’m told)! Our Love Is Here To Stay has the verse sung with guitar accompaniment, a steady percussion beat and a half chorus solo from firstly piano, then rippling flute. You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To is introduced by the Sinatra lyrics about it being ' So so nice to wander back'.

 In the Still of the Night gives us a Latin beat and hand drumming; One Note Samba is very fast, just about fitting in all the words and a bell sound from percussion. Cheek To Cheek references vocally I'm Beginning To See The Light, and The Very Thought Of You begins with Ms Thomas singing the last few bars and is done with an Afro-Caribbean beat. This singer takes risks that other singers wouldn't dare try and she brings it off, helped of course by skilled musicians, notably on piano, flute and clarinet, but they all play their part well. 
The CD is available from www.lizziethomas.net   
Ann Alex

Lizzie Thomas (vocals); John Colianni (piano); Jay Leonhart (bass 2,3,4,6); Boots Maleson (bass 1,5,7,8,9); Russell Malone (guitar 2,3,4); Matt Chertkoff (guitar 1,5.6.7.8.9); Omar Daniels (tenor sax, flute); Felix Peikli (clarinet 1,8); Bernard Linette (drums); Doug Hendrichs (percussion).

1/ Fascinating Rhythm 2/ Our Love Is Here To Stay 3/ I Didn't Know About You 4/ You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To 5/ In The Still Of  The Night 6/ One Note Samba 7/ Cheek To Cheek 8/ Close Your Eyes 9/ The Very Thought Of You.

1 comment :

Unknown said...

Thank You Ann! I appreciate the listen and your kind review! Yes, I'm a risk taker when it comes to singing Jazz. But I think there has to be an element of risk when playing Jazz- That's what makes it so exciting!!

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