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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.

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

Black Music In Europe: A Hidden History (Part 2) BBC Radio 4 April 14


In this edition we move into the 1960's, which I remember, so I couldn't possibly have been there, but I digress. The background was race riots in the USA, West Indian immigrants to London being faced with discrimination, a groundbreaking Cameroonian guitarist in Paris, and many jazz musicians in Scandinavia, including John Coltrane and Don Cherry.

It was the time of the Alabama race riots and the music of such as Otis Redding, soul music and jazz. In Paris there was the music of Francis (didn't catch the surname, a hazard of radio) from Cameroon, who hailed from a musical family and played classical guitar which he successfully married to African traditional music, giving many concerts. He argued that society couldn't possibly be truly cultured if racist attitudes existed.

In 'swinging' London there was African dance music, cha cha and quicksteps, known as 'High Life'. Participants would dress smartly to go to events held at St Pancras and Islington town halls. Then came 'Afrobeat' and African percussionists influenced such people as the Rolling Stones, Georgie Fame and Ginger Baker. 'Criss cross' rhythms were featured on an album called The Dawn in 1971.

In South Africa it was still the era of apartheid and in bands of mixed races the black musicians had to play hidden behind curtains. Incredible! Many of them came to settle in London, where they stopped playing bebop and instead embraced free jazz. (Well ahead of their time – I'm still getting used to bebop!) A big band was established, the Brotherhood Of Breath.

The scene widened to the rest of Europe, especially Scandanavia, involving such people as Dexter Gordon, Sonny Rollins, Don Cherry and John Coltrane. These musicians were hailed as heroes. At one concert a fire started and everyone was so engrossed that no-one moved. On another occasion a red carpet was rolled out for John Coltrane. Don Cherry used to play an unusual instrument (pocket trumpet) which sounded to me like a pleasantly muffled guitar in the recorded excerpt. Cherry was open to many influences which we would today call 'world music'.

Next week we move to the 1970's, which includes pop music from Cape Verde, as played in Sweden.
Ann Alex

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