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Bebop Spoken There

Béla Fleck: “ And that's the great thing about live performances, you take people on a journey. It doesn't have to be like something else they've heard. It's not supposed to be". DownBeat, April, 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

Thu 28: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 28: Gateshead Jazz Appreciation Society @ Gateshead Central Library, Gateshead. 2:30pm.
Thu 28: Richard Herdman Quartet @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 28: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Guests: Josh Bentham (alto sax); Alan Marshall (tenor sax); Neil Brodie (trumpet); Adrian Beadnell (bass); Graham Thompson (keys); Steve Hunter (drums).

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.

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.

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.

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Al Grey and Buddy Tate @ The Corner House - 1987

In the various lists that we've been kicking around over the past week or so the inevitable, why didn't I think of that one?, crosses my mind. Lying in bed last night one glaring omission sprung to mind. The legendary JNE sessions at The Corner House in Heaton by Al Grey with either Jimmy Forrest or Buddy Tate and backed by the  Malcolm Saul or Bill Harper Trio. The photo, incidentally, is from an earlier session with Malcolm Saul - you can just see his head in the bottom corner - Bill Harper was the pianist on this particular night.


Grey was a larger than life character, a veteran of the Hampton and Basie big bands - when he was in the trombone section very few of the others got a chance to solo - and a full house was guaranteed when he was in town. These days, when I hear young David "Showtime" Gray blowing, I can't but help thinking about his namesake(ish). Al Grey too should have been referred to as "Showtime".

Jimmy Forrest was a hard act to follow but Buddy Tate was up to to the task. Another ex Basie man, he provided a most memorable moment on December 6, 1987, when he was featured on Polka Dots and Moonbeams. That song remained in my head for days afterwards.

Many years later, Billy Harper, who'd been on the gig, told me that that was the last time Gray and Tate worked together and that they'd had a big falling out during and after the gig due to the trombone player's failure to stick to his own arrangements and that he was as high as a kite.  I don't remember that - probably I too was close to the ceiling - however, I do remember Polka Dots and Moonbeams...

If nothing else, this lockdown business certainly gives you time to reflect upon those days of yore.
Lance

1 comment :

Ron Ainsborough said...

Lance, I too was at that terrific gig at the corner house.

After the gig was over I Remember buying an LP and Al Grey signed it which said it all about the definition of jazz.

The words said 'To Ron, Jazz is a feeling'

Can't be anymore succinct than that can you?

Another boring tale from me.

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