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Bebop Spoken There

Abbie Finn: "Even though there's a lot of great work being done to promote women in jazz, I still come up against some attitudes! I pulled up at a recording session with my drums in the car and the studio owner said, 'I'm sorry, this space is reserved for the drummer!'" - (Jazzwise April 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

15260 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 279 of them this year alone and, so far, 92 this month (March 29).

From This Moment On ...

April
Sat 01: The Big Easy @ St Augustine's Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm.
Sat 01: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. Tutor: Steve Glendinning - In a Minor Key. £25.00. Enrol at: www.jazz.coop.
Sat 01: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington Covered Market, Darlington DL1 5PN. 6:00pm. New venue, live jazz!
Sat 01: Jambone @ Sage Gateshead. 7:00pm. Free (book online). A YMP! event in the Northern Rock Foundation Hall.
Sat 01: Jude Murphy & Dan Stanley @ Prohibtion Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.
Sat 01: Boys of Brass @ Stack, Seaburn. 7:00-9:00pm.
Sat 01: Hot Club du Nord @ Pleased to Meet You, Bridge St., Morpeth. 8:00pm. £79.00. A charity fundraising event.
Sat 01: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00. RESCHEDULED to next week (Sat 08).

Sun 02: Smokin' Spitfires @ The Cluny. 12:45pm.
Sun 02: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 3:00pm.

Mon 03: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.

Tue 04: Paul Skerritt @ The Rabbit Hole, Hallgarth St., Durham DH1 3AT. 7:00pm. Paul Skerritt's (solo) weekly residency.
Tue 04: Jam session @ Black Swan, Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. House trio: Bradley Johnston (guitar); Paul Grainger (double bass); Abbie Finn (drums).

Wed 05: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 05: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 05: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:00pm.
Wed 05: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thu 06: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 06: Thursday Night Prayer Meeting @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Donations. Feat. John Pope, Marie Shreer, John Garner.
Thu 06: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibtion Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Ragtime piano. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.
Thu 06: Darlington Big Band @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Note earlier start time.

Fri 07: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 07: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.
Fri 07: Gaz Hughes Trio @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm.
Fri 07: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Traveller's Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 07: Finntet + Zoë Gilby & Andy Champion @ Bobik's, Punch Bowl, Newcastle. 8:00pm. JNE.
Fri 07: TBA @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig. Blind Pig Blues Club.

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

CD Review: Lauren Henderson – The Songbook Session

Lauren Henderson (vocals); Sullivan Fortner (piano); Eric Wheeler (bass); Allan Mednard (drums, percussion)

We never sleep at BSH, not even during a pandemic, so I now find myself reviewing from a digital download. A hazard of this is that the tracks aren't quite the same as stated in the publicity sheet, so there are a couple of extra tracks here for good measure. I'm not complaining as these standards are imaginatively interpreted, with superb musicianship from the instrumentalists, who are given lots of space to display their work, with some tracks rounded off instrumentally, rather than the more usual habit of ending with a second vocal chorus.

Beautiful Love opens with bass improvisation, then snatches of the tune from piano, then the song emerges from the snatches, clever stuff, only two and a half minutes long, but delightful. Besame Mucho opens with just drums and sinuous voice and ends rather dramatically with a three times tag. People Will Say We're In Love also has a Latin feel, with that pleasing 'clank' sound from drums, and piano comments during the drum solo. Tenderly has the singer's own Spanish lyrics but the second chorus is in English thus 'the shore was kissed by sea and mist tenderly.'

Day By Day comes in two versions: as a duo with piano, which romps and solos playfully, such a contrast from the full group version where the piano blends well with the other instrumentalists. A pianist who understands his music. Sabor A Mi isn't in English but is surely about something romantic involving the sea, as the piano seems to portray waves on the beach. Meditation is to a Latin beat, one of the tracks which finishes instrumentally with a repeated riff. While We're Young features interesting rumbling drums and an intimate feel to the singing, near the microphone, as indeed on all the tracks.

This CD is the sixth time that Ms Henderson has collaborated with pianist Fortner. Ms Henderson is an arranger and musical impressario as well as a singer. She has a diverse background of Spanish and Portuguese influences, and she has qualifications in Music, Business and Hispanic Studies. She has performed in Europe, Mexico and South Africa and she is at present preparing for her tenth tour of Europe.

The album was released on April 24 on Brontosaurus Records
 Ann Alex

Beautiful Love; Besame Mucho; People Will Say We're In Love; Tiernamente (Tenderly); Day By Day; Sabor A Mi; Meditacao (Meditation); Day By Day (duo); While We're Young.

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