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Bebop Spoken There

Branford Marsalis: "As ignorance often forces us to do, you make a generalisation about a musician based on one specific record or one moment in time." - (Jazzwise June 2023).

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!"

Postage

15478 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 499 of them this year alone and, so far, 120 this month (May 27).

From This Moment On ...

May 2023

Wed 31: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 31: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 31: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:00pm.
Wed 31: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

June
Thu 01: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 01: Thursday Night Prayer Meeting @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Donations.
Thu 01: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Ragtime piano. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.
Thu 01: Jake Leg Jug Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Thu 01: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Fri 02: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 02: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 02: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.
Fri 02: Joseph Carville Trio @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm.
Fri 02: Claire Martin & Her Trio @ The Witham, Barnard Castle. 7:30pm. £25.00., £20.00. Feat. Jim Mullen, Alex Garnett & Jeremy Brown.
Fri 02: Guy Davis + Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. Doors 7:30pm. Blues double bill.
Fri 02: Anders Ingram @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Blind Pig Blues Club. Country blues. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.

Sat 03: Newcastle Record Fair @ Northumbria University, Newcastle NE8 8SB. 10:00am-3:00pm. Admission: £2.00.
Sat 03: Pedigree Jazz Band @ St Augustine's Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm.
Sat 03: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. Tutor: Sue Ferris. £25.00. Enrol at: www.jazz.coop.
Sat 03: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 6:00pm. Free.
Sat 03: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 03: Papa G's Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.

Sun 04: Smokin' Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm.
Sun 04: Central Bar Quintet @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00-4:00pm. £5.00. The Central Bar Quintet plays Sonny Rollins' Saxophone Colossus. Featuring Lewis Watson.
Sun 04: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 3:00pm.
Sun 04: Struggle Buggy + Michael Littlefield @ Tyne Bar, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Acoustic blues.
Sun 04: Swinging at the Cotton Club: Harry Strutters' Hot Rhythm Orchestra @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.
Sun 04: Richard Jones Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 05: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.

Tue 06: Paul Skerritt @ The Rabbit Hole, Hallgarth St., Durham DH1 3AT. 7:00pm. Paul Skerritt's (solo) weekly residency.
Tue 06: Jam session @ Black Swan, Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. House trio: Stu Collingwood (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Sid White (drums).

Sunday, November 15, 2020

Yazz Ahmed: Polyhymnia live streaming from Sage Gateshead - Nov. 14

We were due to attend Yazz Ahmed's concert at Sage Gateshead - socially distanced, of course - only for Lockdown 2.0 to intervene. The music world's recently adopted default position, the live stream, once again stepped into the breach. It isn't ideal, but needs must. 

Sage One's large stage comfortably accommodated Ahmed's twelve-strong ensemble, set-up to perform in-the-round. Polyhymnia formed the basis of the one hour set. Ahmed's work, funded by Art Council England and Help Musicians UK, formed part of Sage Gateshead's 'Live 2020' concert series. Ahmed's project sought to celebrate the achievements of significant female figures. 

The suffragettes inspired tonight's opening number, Deeds Not Words. As multiple camera angles came into play a host of familiar figures on the British jazz scene came into view: alto sax ace Mr Nat Facey, on tenor and bass clarinet, Mr George Crowley, in the two-man trumpet section, Mr Noel Langley (pictured alongside Miguel Gorodi), vibes demon Mr Ralph Wyld, the in-demand Dudley Phillips on bass, and drummer Ms Sophie Alloway laying down an impeccable groove. 

Ms Ahmed (trumpet and flugelhorn) directed the ensemble with the minimum of fuss, content to let the experienced heads help realise her creation. Ruby Bridges saluted the American civil rights activist with Sophie Alloway (pictured) leading off on an apposite New Orleans' shuffle. An Arabic feel signalled Lahan al-Mansour, Ahmed's recognition of Saudi Arabia's first female feature film director Haifaa al-Mansour, a woman who, unsurprisingly, has endured varying degrees of hostility from regressive forces. The Polyhymnia ensemble, essentially an expanded version of Ahmed's Hafla septet, clearly enjoyed the occasion with many smiles and nods of appreciation for the soloists across the evening. 

Dudley Phillips' effects-laden bass playing on One Girl Among Many pointed to the courage of Malala Yousafzai in standing up to the brutality of a bunch of hoodlums with the ensemble, as one, reciting the words of Yousafzai. More inspirational women stepped up. 2857 referenced Rosa Parks' pivotal role in the Montgomery, Alabama bus boycott (2857 being the number of the infamous bus service) with George Crowley in suitably belligerent, explosive form. And to close,  Barbara, in homage to pioneering British modern jazz/fusion reeds virtuoso Barbara Thompson.  

Russell  

Yazz Ahmed (trumpet, flugelhorn); Nat Facey (alto sax); George Crowley (tenor sax, bass clarinet); Kate Ingram (baritone sax); Miguel Gorodi (trumpet); Noel Langley (trumpet); Owen Dawson (trombone); Ralph Wyld (vibes); Naadia Sheriff (piano, keyboards); Dudley Phillips (bass); Elizabeth Nott (percussion); Sophie Alloway (drums).

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