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Bebop Spoken There

Art Blakey: "You [Bobby Watson] don't want to play too long, because you don't know they're clapping because they're glad you finished!" - (JazzTimes, Nov. 2019)..

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

15848 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 855 of them this year alone and, so far, 53 this month (Sept. 18).

From This Moment On ...

September

Sat 23: Tyne Valley Big Band @ Tanfield Railway, Gateshead. 2:00-4:00pm. Free. A '1940s Weekend' event.
Sat 23: Jason Isaacs @ Stack, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free.
Sat 23: Andrew Porritt & Keith Barrett @ Cullercoats Watch House, Front St., Cullercoats NE30 4QB. 7:00pm.
Sat 23: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig. Country blues.

Sun 24: Musicians Unlimited @ Park Inn, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.

Mon 25: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Mon 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 7:00pm.

Tue 26: Paul Skerritt @ The Rabbit Hole, Hallgarth St., Durham DH1 3AT. 7:00pm. Paul Skerritt's (solo) weekly residency.

Wed 27: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 27: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 27: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thu 28: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 28: Alice Grace Quartet @ King's Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 28: Gateshead Jazz Appreciation Society @ Gateshead Central Library, Gateshead. 2:30pm. All welcome.
Thu 28: Faye MacCalman + Snape/Sankey @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Thu 28: Zoe Rahman @ Jesmond United Reformed Church, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:30pm. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Thu 28: '58 Jazz Collective @ Hops & Cheese, Hartlepool. 7:30pm.
Thu 28: Speakeasy @ Queen's Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm. £15.00. A Southpaw Dance Company presentation. Dance, audio-visuals, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, swing dancers etc.
Thu 28: Mick Cantwell Band @ Harbour View, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Ace blues band.
Thu 28: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Fri 29: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 29: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 29: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

Book review: Peter Jones: This is Bop - Jon Hendricks and the Art of Vocal Jazz

As an accomplished jazz singer himself, I can think of few people better qualified  than Peter Jones to write this well-researched biography of the legendary Jon Hendricks. 

The research via magazine articles, interviews with Hendricks' family, friends and fellow musicians, with sources all indexed, has set a bar so high that it would be nigh impossible for any future biographers to surpass or even to come close.

Further proof, if indeed proof were needed of the author's credentials, can be found in his previous book This is Hip - The Life of Mark Murphy. In many ways the two books complement each other due to Jones' meticulous approach and the fact that the two singers' paths frequently crossed. I can't imagine anyone reading This is Hip not wanting to read This is Bop - and vice versa.

Needless to say the background to the groundbreaking Lambert, Hendricks, Ross - arguably the greatest jazz vocal group ever - is given plenty space as is his relationship to the other two members, Dave Lambert and Annie Ross (later Yolande Bavan). The group survived circa 10 years which may seem a lot until you realise that Jon Hendricks' own career lasted over 70 years!

The background to the records and concerts is detailed and, amazing. Given the complexity of the lyrics on top of the already complex solos they were based on, Hendricks' cavalier approach, particularly to newcomers coming in as last minute deps and expecting them to carry it off with little or no rehearsal is quite amazing!

The discography is comprehensive and already has me writing notes to Santa!

Not that this is a mere listing of concerts and recordings, but equally an insight into the man himself. That, like so many great artists, he had his flaws aren't overlooked or covered up, Jones lays them bare - the drug abuse, the putting his name to other composer's works etc. - but he does it without sensationalism.

I was fortunate in hearing LHR with the Basie Band at Newcastle City Hall but I deeply regret that I didn't take up the opportunity to catch Jon Hendricks at Ronnie's during the 2010 London Jazz Festival. I thought to myself - he's 89 he'll be past it. I rather think I was wrong!

To sum up This is Bop - This is Top!

If you don't think it will fit into your Christmas stocking them buy a bigger stocking!

Lance.

Peter Jones: This is Bop - Jon Hendricks and the Art of Vocal Jazz. Equinox Publishing. ISBN-13 9781178179874. (Hardback). 272 pages, 30 photos.


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