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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.

Friday, September 25, 2020

Abbie Finn Trio @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle - Sept. 24

Abbie Finn (drums); Harry Keeble (tenor sax); Paul Grainger (double bass)


A couple of years ago drummer Abbie Finn (Leeds College of Music/Trinity Laban graduate) and saxophonist Harry Keeble (Leeds College of Music graduate) joined forces with Tyneside based bassist Paul Grainger to play classic Modern/contemporary jazz charts alongside some original material. Six months ago a debut album and tour dates were announced then lockdown put things on the back burner.


Fast forward to late September, a rainy, autumnal evening. That first album is imminent and dates are in the diary. The first of them, at Gosforth Civic Theatre, attracted a select, socially distanced audience. It's a sign of the times when the musicians, just like members of the audience, are obliged to navigate a Covid-secure, one-way system throughout the premises wearing a face covering. As the lights dimmed a face mask hung from Paul Grainger's music stand...


Finn's North Meets South (Abbie is from 'up north', Harry from 'down south', perhaps that explains it!) opened the trio's one-set performance. Some musicians arrange a set list with great care. This was Abbie Finn saying: This is what we do! Following up with two bona fide classics - Seven Steps to Heaven (Grainger nailing Ron Carter's memorable bass figure) and Night and Day (a favourite tune of Keeble's, said Finn) - compared favourably with composer Finn's effort.

Due to a ten o'clock lockdown curfew being imposed on the venue this was to be an extended one-set performance. A brace of tunes illustrated the trio's depth of talent as composers: Grainger's Waltz for Tony then Keeble's Norse mythology-inspired Ginnungagap (no, me neither!). Keeble has previously spoken of his admiration for Michael Brecker, to your reviewer's ear there is Sonny Rollins in his playing. 

Chick Corea's Windows (a favourite number, said Finn) changed it up and Bernie's Tune changed it up again (more Rollins-esque tenor saxophone from Keeble) with Grainger's concise solo a particular highlight. Finn said of the latter number that she arranged it for big band at Leeds College of Music and here we were, just a few short years later, hearing it in trio format. 

Finn's Walkabout had a modern jazz feel to the head and, as it was her tune, she took a solo! The thought occurred that if Finn had been around in the days of the Jazz Couriers she could have got the call. Time was pressing; one or two gentle plugs for the new album - Northern Perspective, coming soon, watch this space - then the closer, Sonny Rollins' Oleo. All things considered, in these challenging times the Abbie Finn Trio got the autumn concert season off to a flyer.

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