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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, May 31, 2020

Jazz Co-op Live Stream: Fergus McCreadie - May 31

Fergus McCreadie (keyboard)

Fergus McCreadie makes interesting viewing, very dramatic and enthusiastic, head bobbing, body bending towards the keyboard, unruly hair. I'm not surprised that he is a prize-winning performer as he played mostly original compositions with great aplomb.

Unfortunately the first 20 minutes or so of tonight's gig was marred by cutouts after every few notes. After Fergus made some technical adjustments this was sorted but it was rather frustrating and people may wish to catch up on the YouTube recording.

I missed the title of the first tune and Fergus is softly-spoken so I may have missed other titles. The piece began with very low left hand notes, fragmented, until the tune emerged, but stayed mostly in a powerful left hand. A tune played by Bill Evans, possibly composed by Harold Arlen, we were told. Next came Young and Foolish, sweet and flowing, but foreshortened by a 2 minute break to sort out the sound. No problems from then on.

This was followed by an original from his second CD, a tune called Across The Flatlands (I think) my favourite of the night, very Scottish and atmospheric, a 3-note repeated riff with a highland dance tune above it and short bagpipe-like swirls of sound, becoming more jazz-like, before the tune ends, seemingly in the middle. Then a tune composed during lockdown, as yet untitled, a slower meditative folky love song type of tune.

Fergus said that only 30 per cent of his listening is jazz, (good to get other influences) and he enjoys singer-songwriters, so he did a cover of the song Forgotten Eyes, a very singable melody, with improvisation and full use of the keyboard.  A request from the chat list next, Ardbeg  from the album Turas, another Highland influenced tune. The final offering was a tune with the working title Glasgow, a slow melody which could be a love song, very enjoyable but nothing at all like the Glasgow I remember from my last visit there, many years ago. You'd expect a tune from that city to have more punch!

A very enjoyable music session, despite the sound problems at the beginning.
Ann Alex

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