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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

Thu 28: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 28: Gateshead Jazz Appreciation Society @ Gateshead Central Library, Gateshead. 2:30pm.
Thu 28: Richard Herdman Quartet @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 28: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Guests: Josh Bentham (alto sax); Alan Marshall (tenor sax); Neil Brodie (trumpet); Adrian Beadnell (bass); Graham Thompson (keys); Steve Hunter (drums).

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.

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.

Sunday, July 26, 2020

Album Review: Suzanna Ross – is Bewitched – Not Bothered, Not Bewildered

Suzanna Ross (Vocals); Gregory Toroian (piano, arrangements); Skip Ward (bass); David Silliman (drums)

Suzanna Ross sings in New York City at jazz and cabaret venues, such as the Metropolitan Room and TOMI Jazz as well as performing at the Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning. Growing up hearing all kinds of music, her repertoire is wide, including jazz, French chansons, pop, bossa nova and songs from films. This is her debut album.

The mix of songs is, indeed, very varied, and the instrumentalists are well up to the mark, especially during their short solos. I can simply quote from the notes supplied '[they] offer solid and subtle support'. Ms Ross's voice is enjoyable to listen to, but, to my ears, the tone was a little unsure at times. The voice was stronger on the French chanson items, with an effective vibrato sound, adding to the passion of those songs. It is worth listing the tracks individually to demonstrate the variety.

Haven't We Met

Bewitched - not the usual jazz song but the theme song from the TV show. I remember this well, the heroine waggled her nose to cast spells. I know this from my misspent youth watching too much TV.

Dreamer, followed by Ces Petits Riens - in French with a piano introduction. Then Mr Wonderful which is sung with feeling. Summer Me, Winter Me is from a 1969 film, a lively fast tune, rounded off, impressively, with a bass drum playing along with high pitched piano.

Parlez-Moi de Lui is followed by my least favourite song - My Favorite Things - and then comes Laura from the 1944 film noir. For Me Formidable has alternate French and English lyrics followed by a catchy Come To Baby Do. Over The Rainbow is a little different from usual, sung in both English and French.

The last 3 tracks are Boomerang Baby, an Australian love song; the Herman's Hermits' number There's A Kind Of Hush, and Live for Life, a fitting finale, all about living life to the full in the present.

The album was self-released on March 20, 2020, presumably available from the usual suspects. See www.suzannaross.com
Ann Alex

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