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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.

Sunday, March 01, 2020

Mike Lovatt w. Strictly Smokin' Big Band @ Sage Gateshead - February 29

(Review by Lance)

Some cats can some cats can't.
Mike Lovatt can!
Mike Lovatt can do what?
Mike Lovatt can hit the high notes - those notes that only dogs can hear, those notes that can crack a glass at 50 paces.

It's long been the eternal question among brass players as to whether it's an inborn thing or whether it comes with practice or by using a special mouthpiece. Every trumpet player has his own theory with the proviso that just because it works for him doesn't mean it works for you. Buy a piano and you know you're buying an instrument capable of playing 88 notes. Buy a trumpet and the sky's the limit - or maybe not!


With Mike the sky certainly was the limit and even then they've maybe moved the sky to accommodate our man! It was a stunning performance and I was pleased to see that the three tier full Sage Two included quite a few of our local brass men, their jaws touching the floor.

Not that it was all pyrotechnics, Mike Lovatt also has a rich, round, middle register tone that many high-noters don't have and his varied programme of mainly standards brought the applause it deserved.

The arrangements came from a variety of sources including Stuart McLean-Fowler, a Tyneside based teacher, composer, arranger and trumpet player who actually played with SSBB at their memorable gig with Paul Booth a couple of years back.


The band were on form having, over the years, had much experience backing name singers and instrumentalists and nothing phases them. All the usual suspects soloed with some sparkling exchanges between Lovatt and Summers on - was it St. Louis Blues? - I was enjoying it too much to take notes. Another number - Jazz Connoisseur (I think) had the trumpets interacting with Mike with Gordon Marshall dishing out a few high notes of his own!

Ms. Grace looked and sounded fantastic - her handling of Metheny's Timeline was quite breathtaking for both audience and singer.

Another successful evening for Michael Lamb and his flock. Next year's concert features Pete Long and some Ellingtonia - tickets are on sale now!
Lance

Mike Lovatt (trumpet) with:
SSBB: Michael Lamb MD, Pete Tanton, Gordon Marshall, Dick Stacey (trumpets); Mark Ferris, Kieran Parnaby, Chris Kurgi-Smith, John Flood (trombones), Jamie Toms, Dave Kerridge, Keith Robinson, Steve Summers, Laurie Rangecroft (reeds); Pawel Jedrzejewski (guitar); Graham Don (piano); Michael Whent (bass guitar); Guy Swinton (drums); Alice Grace (vocals)

3 comments :

Russell said...

What a performance - both Mike Lovatt & the SSBB! If you fancy hearing Lovatt again he'll be in the BBC Big Band's trumpet section at the Gala Theatre, Durham on Wednesday (Mar 4, 7:30pm).

Liz said...

Little Girl Blue, not often heard, I love this number, esp sung by Ella.

Anonymous said...

All I can say is 'WOW'. What a concert .SSBB are as good as any big band I have ever heard . Spectacular trumpet playing by ML.

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