Total Pageviews

Bebop Spoken There

Ambrose Akinmusire: “ I am certainly always aware of what the masses are doing. And when I see too many people going one way, I'm going another way - even when I don't know what's over that way". DownBeat, March, 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

Tue 19: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Tim Johnston.

Wed 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 20: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 20: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 21: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 21: Castillo Neuvo Trio + Conor Emery & His ‘Bones Band @ The Grove, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £10.00. (£7.00. student).
Thu 21: Remi Banklyn + Chris Corcoran Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.50. Chicago blues. An International Guitar Foundation promotion.
Thu 21: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Ragtime piano.
Thu 21: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 22: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 22: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 22: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 22: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 22: Nauta + Remy CB + Last Orders @ Hoochie Coochie, Newcastle. 8:30pm (7:30pm doors). Free.
Fri 22: Vasilis Xenopoulos-Paul Edis Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £15.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 22: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 23: Jambone @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Free (ticketed). End of term performance in the Northern Rock Foundation Hall.
Sat 23: Milne-Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 23: Red Kites Jazz @ Rowlands Gill Community Centre NE39 1JB. 7:00pm. Tickets: £12.00. (gibsidecommunityfarm@gmail.com). A ‘Build a Barn’ fundraiser. BYOB, tea/coffee available.
Sat 23: New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00. + bf (book in person at venue - no booking fee!). Featuring pianist Martin Litton.
Sat 23: Pete Tanton’s Cuba Libre @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 24: Musicians Unlimited @ Park Inn, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 24: Luis Verde @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. Verde (alto sax); Joe Steels (guitar); John Pope (double bass); John Hirst (drums). Alto sax brilliance!
Sun 24: Elsie Franklin @ The Globe, Newcastle. 3:00pm. £10.00. Country blues. An International Guitar Foundation promotion.
Sun 24: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay Metro Station. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: Las Vegas Live with the Rat Pack @ The Forum, Billingham.
Sun 24: Ian Millar & Dominic Spencer @ Otterburn Memorial Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Sun 24: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Note start time - 7:00pm.
Sun 24: Bold Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 25: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Friday, October 30, 2020

Remembering The Connaught Hall, Newcastle.



Those of us for whom the "sand in the glass" is well past the halfway mark may, I hope, be excused for indulging ourselves in the occasional look back at the way things were "when we were young (ish)" In particular, I'm thinking about those early JNE gigs at The Connaught Hall, which, if memory serves me right, was part of the YMCA.

It is, of course, long gone. Demolished to make way for the Eldon Square Shopping Centre. However, back then, I attended seven concerts featuring seven jazz legends, accompanied by a few British jazz legends.

It all began in 1966 and surely there could have been no one better qualified to kick-start Jazz North East's first ever concert on March 30 of that year than American pianist Earl "Fatha" Hines. Accompanied by the Alex Welsh Band, I remember floating home in a dream as I did after most, although not all of these concerts. At this late date I can't remember if it was a set by the Welsh band followed by Hines and the rhythm section or if they all mucked in together. I suspect it was the former - what a learning curve for the Welsh Band's pianist Fred Hunt that must have been!

On April 22, Bill Coleman turned up with the Bruce Turner Jump Band and the session really did jump! Turner was on form and so was Bill. Probably one of those most underrated mainstream trumpeters of all time he had a beautifully lyrical style.

A month later, May 20, saw former Ellington cornet player, Rex Stewart and, once more, the Alex Welsh Band. This was a let down, the only disappointment of all of the seven concerts. Rex was obviously past his best and the half-valve trademarks that had worked so well with Duke some 30 years earlier didn't quite cut it. Or maybe Bill Coleman had been too hard an act to follow - for me anyway!

Later that year, on November 18, Edmund Hall appeared with the Alan Elsdon Band for another memorable night - a true master of New Orleans' clarinet playing and much more. He came across as a dignified senior citizen - until he cut loose!

In 1967 (November 23) Coleman Hawkins was the attraction backed by the Mike Carr Trio. A frail, bearded old man said to be living on cognac he looked anything but the man we knew on record as having the biggest saxophone sound in jazz - and then he blew! The walls reverberated and we knew we were in the presence of greatness the like of which we'd never know again - he died two years later.

When it came to big sounds Hawkins' closest rival was Ben Webster and Ben duly arrived on April 28 along with the Pat Smythe Trio. Another great session, it was incredible to think we were hearing and seeing these amazing musicians in a small venue on our doorstep!

Teddy Wilson and the Dave Shepherd Quintet re-created Teddy's time with Benny Goodman and, with Shepherd on clarinet and Ronnie Gleaves (or was it Roger Nobes?) on vibes, he could have had no greater aides this side of Carnegie Hall.

So far, all the American musicians I've mentioned have been mainstreamers but that all changed when Johnny Griffin came to town. I was privileged to shake his hand in the nearby Eldon Grill so, if we are ever allowed to shake hands again you will be able to boast that this is the hand that shook the hand of Johnny Griffin! Mike Carr was supposed to provide the backing but, on the night, it was Damian Robinson. I'd never heard of anyone called Damian at that point in my life although these days there are probably more Damians around than, say Georges! Still what's in a name? He did the business and Griffin blew up a storm.

Talk about happy memories - these were my "Swinging Sixties"!

Lance

PS: If anyone has fliers or tickets from the above concerts I'd appreciate if they could scan them to me just to make the article complete.

3 comments :

Ron Ainsborough said...

Lance you have really brought memories to me about the revered Connaught Hall. First concerts of jazz icons in the 60's.
I went to see every concert you listed other than the Edmund Hall one. Starting with Earl Hines which to this day it is one of the best concerts I ever had the privilege to attend. Incidentally I think he played with rhythm section only, Lennie Hastings on drums I recall?
Not to underestimate the other concerts of course. Johnny Griffin, Wow! He beat me into the bar at half time by some distance, True.
Great days!!!!!
Regretfully I don't have any memorabilia for you but thanks for a great blog.
Hope you are well
Ron

Cormac Loane said...

On the reverse side of my Teddy Wilson ticket you can see a few autographs I got after the gig. This confirms that it was Roger Nobes on vibes. I can’t read the second autograph and don’t recollect who was on bass and drums. I presume Brian Lemon must have started the gig off and then handed over to Teddy Wilson. I attended the gig with Colin Aitchison - we must both have been about 14 at the time - and I remember us having an affable chat with Teddy Wilson at the end, during which he described Dave Shepherd as being ‘as good as Benny Goodman!’

And I was also lucky enough to play in the Savannah Syncopators during their warm-up spot for Teddy Wilson’s appearance at the Edinburgh Jazz Festival in about 1982 - I think you were there!

Lance said...

I'm sure it was Johnny Richardson on drums and probably Mike Durell on bass. They both were regulars with Shepherd around that time.
I think it was Dave Green on bass for the Edinburgh gig.

Blog Archive