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Bebop Spoken There

Branford Marsalis: "As ignorance often forces us to do, you make a generalisation about a musician based on one specific record or one moment in time." - (Jazzwise June 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

15478 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 499 of them this year alone and, so far, 120 this month (May 27).

From This Moment On ...

May 2023

Wed 31: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 31: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 31: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:00pm.
Wed 31: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

June
Thu 01: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 01: Thursday Night Prayer Meeting @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Donations.
Thu 01: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Ragtime piano. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.
Thu 01: Jake Leg Jug Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Thu 01: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Fri 02: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 02: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 02: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.
Fri 02: Joseph Carville Trio @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm.
Fri 02: Claire Martin & Her Trio @ The Witham, Barnard Castle. 7:30pm. £25.00., £20.00. Feat. Jim Mullen, Alex Garnett & Jeremy Brown.
Fri 02: Guy Davis + Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. Doors 7:30pm. Blues double bill.
Fri 02: Anders Ingram @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Blind Pig Blues Club. Country blues. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.

Sat 03: Newcastle Record Fair @ Northumbria University, Newcastle NE8 8SB. 10:00am-3:00pm. Admission: £2.00.
Sat 03: Pedigree Jazz Band @ St Augustine's Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm.
Sat 03: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. Tutor: Sue Ferris. £25.00. Enrol at: www.jazz.coop.
Sat 03: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 6:00pm. Free.
Sat 03: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 03: Papa G's Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.

Sun 04: Smokin' Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm.
Sun 04: Central Bar Quintet @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00-4:00pm. £5.00. The Central Bar Quintet plays Sonny Rollins' Saxophone Colossus. Featuring Lewis Watson.
Sun 04: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 3:00pm.
Sun 04: Struggle Buggy + Michael Littlefield @ Tyne Bar, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Acoustic blues.
Sun 04: Swinging at the Cotton Club: Harry Strutters' Hot Rhythm Orchestra @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.
Sun 04: Richard Jones Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 05: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.

Tue 06: Paul Skerritt @ The Rabbit Hole, Hallgarth St., Durham DH1 3AT. 7:00pm. Paul Skerritt's (solo) weekly residency.
Tue 06: Jam session @ Black Swan, Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. House trio: Stu Collingwood (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Sid White (drums).

Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Customs House Big Band @ Dormans Jazz Club Middlesbrough - March 12

(Review/photo by Ron H)

The first big band gig of this year played to a large and enthusiastic audience and, ably directed by MD Peter Morgan, made for a great night of jazz.

Gerry Mulligan's Young Blood  showed why the band has such a fine reputation, with solos from Ian Robinson  trumpet, Jim McBriarty tenor sax, Alan Marshall  alto sax and, with the band playing so well together, gave the evening an excellent start.

Sonny Rollins' Doxy gave Neville Hartley the opportunity to display his talents with a fine trombone solo. The band then moved on to a tune that I think should be heard more often - Canadian Sunset - with nice solos from Dave Brocklesby trombone and Gary Hadfield  keys. Stolen Moments followed with the soloists having excellent backing from Paul Smith on drums and Alan Smith on bass.

A nice big band arrangement of All Of Me gave Chris Kaberry the chance to play a baritone sax solo before the band moved into double time with an excellent guitar solo from Bradley Johnston.

The funky Mohave Breakdown began with a great drum intro from Paul Smith and then driven throughout  by drums and Allan Smith on bass.

After faultlessly playing Traces, The Count Steps Out, A New Kind Of Soup the first set was brought to a close with the nice relaxing Bluff Point.

A dramatic start to the second set was made with the Buddy Rich number Dancing Men  with a driving rhythm on drums (Paul) and bass (Alan) throughout, including fine solos from Josh Bentham and Neville Hartley on tenor sax and trombone respectively.

Further numbers of this second set included The Sammy Nestico arrangement of The Witching Hour, an interesting version of Yankee Doodle, the lovely ballad  Yearning, with nice octave work from Bradley Johnston on  guitar, before an exciting On Green Dolphin Street with  solos from Bob Temple trumpet, Jim McBriarty tenor and Neville Hartley trombone doing great justice to this number.

A powerful version of Feeling Good performed by, among others,  Cy Grant and Nina Simone featured  great alto sax playing from Alan Marshall.

Charlie Parker's Yardbird Suite was followed by the final number, a swinging version of Dizzy Gillespie's Groovin' High.

After rapturous applause an encore of Gerry Mulligan's Catch As Catch Can brought the night finally to a close.

I find it difficult to do justice to this band. All the musicians are capable of fine solo work and show true professionalism playing these great arrangements inspired, no doubt by Peter, both as a leader and, in between numbers, an entertaining raconteur. I must apologise for missing some of the musicians names but, nevertheless, thanks go to all the band members for travelling to Middlesbrough for this excellent concert.

Unfortunately vocalist Ruth Lambert, due to illness, could not be with the band and it is hoped that she will soon make a full recovery.

The usual thanks go to the management and staff of Dorman's Club for their help and support in running this weekly Jazz Night.
Ron H.
PS: Hopefully, see you all again soon...

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