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Bebop Spoken There

Kelly Sill: "Just because everyone is playing through the changes in the same time doesn't mean they're actually playing together" - (JazzTimes March/April 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

15260 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 279 of them this year alone and, so far, 92 this month (March 29).

From This Moment On ...

April

Sun 02: Smokin' Spitfires @ The Cluny. 12:45pm.
Sun 02: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 3:00pm.

Mon 03: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.

Tue 04: Paul Skerritt @ The Rabbit Hole, Hallgarth St., Durham DH1 3AT. 7:00pm. Paul Skerritt's (solo) weekly residency.
Tue 04: Jam session @ Black Swan, Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. House trio: Bradley Johnston (guitar); Paul Grainger (double bass); Abbie Finn (drums).

Wed 05: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 05: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 05: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:00pm.
Wed 05: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thu 06: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 06: Thursday Night Prayer Meeting @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Donations. Feat. John Pope, Marie Shreer, John Garner.
Thu 06: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibtion Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Ragtime piano. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.
Thu 06: Darlington Big Band @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Note earlier start time.

Fri 07: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 07: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.
Fri 07: Gaz Hughes Trio @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm.
Fri 07: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Traveller's Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 07: Finntet + Zoë Gilby & Andy Champion @ Bobik's, Punch Bowl, Newcastle. 8:00pm. JNE.
Fri 07: TBA @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig. Blind Pig Blues Club.

Sat 08: Me Lost Me + Ceitidh Mac + Heather Ferrier @ Bobik's, Punch Bowl, Newcastle. 7:30pm. JNE.
Sat 08: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington Covered Market, Darlington DL1 5PN. 6:00pm. New venue, live jazz!
Sat 08: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00. RESCHEDULED from last week (Sat 01).
Sat 08: Robbie Reay @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Acoustic blues. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.
Sat 08: Anth Purdy @ Mr Tighe's, Bebside, Northumberland. 8:30pm.

Tuesday, December 08, 2020

Album review: Collette Cooper – Lost

This fine CD was issued a few days ago with all proceeds being donated to Nordoff Robins,which is the UK's largest independent music therapy charity, for which Ms Cooper is an ambassador. The general 'feel' of the album is of driving blues and a feeling of loss, with musical surprises on some of the tracks.

There are four original songs, two popular standards (I Put a Spell on You and Street Life) plus a bonus track coda, which is informal fun, where Ms Cooper sings and tries to play harmonica. The recording was made direct to tape in one take, not obvious at all except for the coda.

The track which stood out for me is Cooper's own Perfect Girl, an entertaining cabaret number which would have been worthy of Piaf. Voice and piano lead the song, describing a too-perfect person in the limelight, with accordion comments and low bass notes supplying the darker side of the portrayal.

On blues style numbers such as Don't Throw Your Love Away, the voice has hints of Bessie Smith with a pleasing raspy undertone and Lost Soul is a heartfelt gospel song with trumpet solo and lyrics asking for help - Jesus help me find, some kind of peace of mind.

I Put a Spell on You has a repeated rhythm on piano and a solo on muted trumpet. This is all rounded off with the coda, with spoken comments: They're all lookin' at me showing the singer's very human side.

Ms Cooper, championed by BBC2, Radio6 Music and Jazz FM, plays regularly around London at venues such as the Jazz Cafe, The Roundhouse and the Piano Bar Soho. A community activist and artist who has been involved in Vivian Westwood's Cool Earth environmental charity.

I hope this recording makes a lot of money for the charity. It is available on Thelonius Punk Records via the usual suspects.

Ann Alex

Don't Throw Your Love Away; I Put a Spell on You; Lost Soul; Outta My Mind; Perfect Girl; Street Life; Coda (bonus track)

Collette Cooper (vocals); George Muranyi (piano); Francois Moreau (bass); Cyro Taylor (drums); Graeme Flowers (trumpet) + Sam Taylor (piano); Andrea Trillo (drums); Kevin Davy (trumpet); Steve Counsel (harmonica); Dan Lipman (sax); Mike Hanson (lead guitar); Frank Biddulph (violin); Martina Schwarz (accordion); Simon King, Dan Lipman (backing vocals track 6)

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