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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

17586 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 860 of them this year alone and, so far, 5 this month (Dec. 2).

From This Moment On ...

December

Wed 11: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Cath Stephens’ improvisation workshop @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 4:30-6:00pm. Collaborative group focusing on vocal improvisations.
Wed 11: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 11: The Tannery Jam Session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Second Wednesday in the month.
Wed 11: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 12: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Spanish City, Whitley Bay. 12 noon. £27.00. (inc. three -course meal).
Thu 12: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:00-6:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Thu 12: Stuart Turner @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 12: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesborough. 8:30pm. Free. Guests: Jeremy McMurray (keys); Mark Toomey (alto sax); Donna Hewitt (tenor sax); Kevin Eland (trumpet); Ron Smith (bass).

Fri 13: Dean Stockdale Trio @ Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 13: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Bellavana @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 3:00-5:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Joe Steels Trio @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Customs House Big Band @ Stocksfield Community Association. 7:00pm. Featuring Ruth Lambert.
Fri 13: Paul Edis & Friends: A Jazzy Xmas @ St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook. 7:30pm. £15.00.
Fri 13: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £19.00. + bf. First night of two.
Fri 13: Ransom Van @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 13: Boys of Brass @ Hoochie Coochie, Newcastle. 9:00pm. £10.00.

Sat 14: Jambone @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:15pm. Free but ticketed.
Sat 14: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm.
Sat 14: Red Kites Jazz @ Staiths Café, Autumn Dr., Gateshead. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 14 Lapwing Jazz Trio @ Three Sheets to the Wind, Alnwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 14: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £19.00. + bf. Second night of two.
Sat 14: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 15: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 12 noon. £8.50. Xmas party feat. Musicians Unlimited + Customs House Big Band. SOLD OUT!
Sun 15: Paul Edis & Friends: A Jazzy Xmas @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 2:00pm.
Sun 15: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Mitch Laddie Band @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Superb blues power trio.
Sun 15: Leeway @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 15: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Paul Edis & Friends: A Jazzy Xmas @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.
Sun 15: Alligator Gumbo @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 16: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 16: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Wheatsheaf, Benton Sq., Whitley Road, Palmersville NE12 9SU. Tel: 0191 266 8137. 12 noon. £9.95. ‘Festive Turkey Dinner’. Book now: 0191 266 8137.
Mon 16: Paul Edis & Friends: A Jazzy Xmas @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.

Tue 17: Paul Edis & Friends: A Jazzy Xmas @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.
Tue 17: BBC Big Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. ‘A Swinging Xmas’.
Tue 17: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.
Tue 17: Bellavana @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 7:45-9:35pm. Free.

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, June 25, 2020

Strictly Smokin' Big Band Live Stream - June 25

On a sweltering summer's evening the medium of Zoom (everybody's favourite/least favourite platform)  presented a fine array of SSBB soloists working with backing tapes. Few would claim this to be the ideal arrangement but, hey, in these lockdown times...

First up Mr Dave Kerridge on tenor playing My One and Only Love. Mr Dependable is DK. Chris Kurgi-Smith threw his hat in the ring  with Lucky Dip (comp. Mark Nightingale). A Lionel Richie number found its way into the set courtesy of pianist and vocalist Graham Don. A mean piano player is Graham and, on this evidence, no mean singer!

SSBB tenor sax man Jamie Toms offered Vincent Youmans' Without a Song, a number JT said he first encountered listening to Sonny Rollins. Good stuff. Kieran Parnaby, sporting a distinctive haircut - someone on the split screen suggested all of the SSBB should go for a similar barnet...hmmm! - chose an apposite Blue Skies. Alto man, the first of two this evening, Mr Keith Robinson confided he was looking forward to July 4. Not because he was choking for a pint, rather he was in need of a haircut! KR likes All the Things You Are and proceeded to play it. Alto man no. 2 was waiting in the wings...

Our American composer, novelist and all round good guy Pete Tanton laid down his trumpet in favour of piano as he sang Tell Me When It's Safe to Open My Eyes. Written before the current pandemic, it certainly has a resonance in these strange times. Nice one, Pete. Paul Donnelly from the Deep South (that's the southern end of BSH's homeland) joined the regular SSBB boys and girls and, as last time round, the visuals were more freeze frame stills than uninterrupted live stream. That said, PD's guitar playing was more than up to scratch on Four Brothers. From one guest to another - Sue Ferris. Whatever the instrument, tenor sax, baritone, Sue never fails to deliver a knockout performance and tonight's contribution - Summertime - on flute was no different. 

And then there was Alice - wow! Someone to Watch Over Me sang AG. No word of a lie, if Gershwin was around today he'd be mightily impressed! Ms Grace would return. Steve Summers took on Bird's Scrapple from the Apple and our second alto sax ace of the evening came off relatively unscathed - that's an achievement in itself. We were nearing the end of tonight's SSBB live stream and it was time for Michael Lamb to demonstrate his mastery of Zoom and all things digital and pick up his muted horn to play a corking If I Were a Bell. Clearly band MD Lamb had been in the lockdown woodshed - tremendous! Chega de Saudeade was Pawel Jedrzejewski's acousitc guitar piece tonight. Underrated is Pav. And finally the full band appeared on screen to contribute recorded parts as Alice Grace sang Fascinating Rhythm live. It worked well. The SSBB will be back in July with more, details nearer the time.  
Russell

SSBB soloists & guest soloists (In order of appearance): Dave Kerridge (tenor sax); Chris Kurgi-Smith (trombone); Graham Don (keyboards, vocals); Jamie Toms (tenor sax); Kieran Parnaby (trombone); Keith Robinson (alto sax);  Pete Tanton (piano, vocals); Paul Donnelly (guitar); Sue Ferris (flute); Alice Grace (vocals); Steve Summers (alto sax); Michael Lamb (trumpet), Pawel Jedrzejewski (guitar);  + SSBB full band video        

1 comment :

NeilC said...

Saved the best for last great session culminating in a spectacular version of Fascinating Rhythm wonderful vocals from Alice Grace her voice is so crisp and clean and the musicianship is collectively second to none , thank you so much for entertaining us through these awful times.

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