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Bebop Spoken There

Kurt Elling: ''There's something to learn from every musician you play with''. (DownBeat, December 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

17630 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 904 of them this year alone and, so far, 49 this month (Dec. 20).

From This Moment On ...

December

Sat 21: Lindsay Hannon Quartet @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £15.00. ‘Swinging with Christmas Songs’.
Sat 21: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 21: Jackson’s Wharf Xmas Party @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 7:00pm. Free. Featuring the New ’58 Jazz Collective.
Sat 21: Brass Fiesta @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 10:30pm. Free.

Sun 22: Hot Club du Nord @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £15.00. + bf. Xmas party. SOLD OUT!
Sun 22: Red Kites Jazz @ Gibside Chapel, nr. Rowlands Gill. 1:00pm. Admission charge applies.
Sun 22: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 22: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: Revolutionaires @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Superb rhythm & blues outfit.
Sun 22: Laurence Harrison, Paul Grainger & Mark Robertson @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Line-up TBC.
Sun 22: The Globe Xmas Party @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Live music (musicians TBC).
Sun 22: Ray Stubbs R & B All-Stars @ Zerox, Sandhill, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors).

Mon 23: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Wheatsheaf, Benton Sq., Whitley Road, Palmersville NE12 9SU. Tel: 0191 266 8137. 1:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Mon 23: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 4:00pm. Free.
Mon 23: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Mon 23: Milne-Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.

Tue 24: Lindsay Hannon & Mark Williams @ Ernest, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 11:00am-1:00pm. Free.
Tue 24: Paul Skerritt @ Mambo Wine & Dine, South Shields. 1:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.

Wed 25: Wot? No jazz!

Thu 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free. TBC.
Thu 26: The Boneshakers @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. The 17th annual Boneshakers’ Shindig.

Fri 27: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free. TBC.
Fri 27: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 27: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

Thursday, April 16, 2020

Farewell Lee Konitz (1927 - 2020)

The sad news has broken that alto sax legend Lee Konitz died yesterday (April 15) - yet another victim of Covid.

Konitz first came to prominence with Miles Davis' innovative Birth of the Cool band before taking to the road with Stan Kenton, studying with Lennie Tristano and recording in many settings.
I first saw him at Newcastle City Hall in a 1958 package - Jazz From Carnegie Hall - that, apart from Lee, included Zoot Sims, J.J. Johnson and Kai Winding. Some years later, in 1975, he played alongside fellow Tristano-ite Warne Marsh at the Corner House in Whitley Bay. This was one of those iconic sessions that is still talked about today by those old enough to remember.

Another moment to remember was in 1978 at Ayresome Park, Middlesbrough, with the Bill Evans Trio.

The last time I saw Lee Konitz was at Pizza Express in May, 2010, where, after a hesitant start he finally got into his stride alongside Dan Tepfer (piano), Michael Janisch (bass) and Jeff Williams (drums).
Four different sessions, all memorable. But, that night in Whitley Bay...!

Lee Konitz was 92 - may he rest in peace. 
Lance.

Syncopated Times obituary.

3 comments :

Steve T said...

Quite amazing that he played on the Birth of the Cool Sessions from 1949.
I saw him twice in his later years.
The first time was at the London Jazz Festival where he was fluid, playing brilliantly and charismatic.
The second was at the Cheltenham Festival just eighteen months later and was very different. He managed to find a chair and spent most of the time sat on it, occasionally playing his horn but mostly singing and scatting. Co-leader Dave Douglas was amazing and clearly found it all hilarious, but bass player Linda Oh, set to embark on an international tour with them (and due to play the Sage round about now),looked terrified.
Anybody tempted to write a list of the top ten greatest living jazz artists may find it quite different from just a few weeks ago.

Peter Bevan said...

Lee also appeared twice at Darlington Arts Centre.
The first occasion was Saturday 21 October 1989 as part of the Fourth Darlington Jazz & Blues Festival. On that occasion he was backed by John Taylor, Mick Hutton and Steve Arguelles. His programme included Star Eyes, Here's That Rainy Day, Chick Came Around, Moonlight in Vermont, All the Things You Are, Days of Wine and Roses and a ballad medley.

The second was on Friday 29 January 1999 a part of Kenny Wheeler's Angel Song tour organised by the Arts Council's Contemporary Music Network. The band was completed by John Abercrombie (replacing Bill Frisell) and Dave Holland.

Russell said...

Peter- do you happen to know why Frisell didn't make the gig?

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