Total Pageviews

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.

Monday, December 07, 2020

Billie Holiday: A Concert Celebration live streaming from Y92, NYC - Dec. 6

Catherine Russell (vocals); Veronica Swift (vocals); Tivon Pennicott (tenor sax); Emmet Cohen (piano); Yasushi Nakamura (double bass); Kyle Poole (drums)

Located on 92nd St, NYC, Y92 has been hosting cultural events for something like 145 years. This New York live stream was actually recorded on November 21. Two weeks later, no doubt following considerable promotion, it finally became available to view, fifteen bucks, to you. Billie Holiday: A Concert Celebration featured stellar names, it couldn't be anything other than good ...
A cavernous, exposed brick performance space, Y92 would, one imagines, in pre-pandemic times, be filled to the rafters. The now familiar sight, and sound, of musicians playing to, and looking down, a camera lens, is how it was for this celebration of Billie Holiday. The Emmet Cohen Trio, as good a piano trio you'll find anywhere, augmented by tenor saxophonist Tivon Pennicott, provided impeccable support to the two star vocalists paying tribute to Lady Day. 

Catherine Russell, daughter of famed bandleader Luis Russell, emerged from the wings to sing the first of the evening's numbers - Time On My Hands. Yes, this was good alright. I Wished on the Moon introduced tenor saxophonist Tivon Pennicott supporting Ms Russell. The one time tenor player with Gregory Porter didn't seek to emulate Lester Young, he is his own man, a fine player. Fine and Mellow took it down, bluesy tenor accompanying our vocalist. 

Time to introduce Ms Veronica Swift. Our vocalists exchanged compliments as they went into Ain't Nobody's Business. Great stuff! It helps to have an ace 'backing band' in the shape of Cohen, bassist Yasushi Nakamura and drummer Kyle Poole! The collective cv spoke volumes - Berklee, Juilliard, NYC first callers, international festival appearances, major concert hall touring musicians etc. 

Ms Russell exited stage right. Ms Swift remained on stage to sing a spellbinding You Go to My Head accompanied by Pennicott's exquisite tenor saxophone playing. More from Swift - If You Were MineDid I Remember? and a sensational Ella-like scat chorus on What a Little Moonlight Can Do (Kyle Poole's brushes on an uptempo round of fours, Pennicott effortlessly referencing the great tenor players!). 

Our vocalists momentarily left the stage to Pennicott and the trio to play Lover Man with Cohen inventively incorporating McCoy Tyner-esque chords - most impressive! Catherine Russell returned once more to sing God Bless the Child accompanied by Cohen. The evening drew to a close in an entirely unexpected way. The musicians' work done, an image of Billie Holiday filled the screen. We were left listening to Billie singing Strange Fruit.    
Russell

1 comment :

Ron Ainsborough said...

Only saw and heard of Veronica Swift about a month ago whilst checking YouTube featuring Emmet Cohen. I have obviously led a very sheltered life to not have them under my jazz radar.
Emmet Cohen I find to be sensational ,likewise Veronica Swift. Great voice and scat singer of the highest standard . Checked out two Emmet Cohen with Veronica Swift sessions in Emmets house in NY.. each over one hour in duration which I found mesmerising.. What more can I say other than you won't see any better jazz. Obviously this is my personal view but feel so lucky to have seen them. Will they be at the Sage one day I wonder.
Ron Ainsborough

Blog Archive