For the past sixteen years we've been updating the world about jazz in the north east of England and updating the north east of England about jazz in the world. WINNER of the Jazz Media Category in the 2018 All Party Parliamentary Jazz Awards. Contact lanceliddle@gmail.com
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Bebop Spoken There
The Things They Say!
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.
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From This Moment On ...
October
Thu 10: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 10: Gateshead Jazz Appreciation Society @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. ‘Collaborations - it happened all the time’.
Thu 10: Indigo Jazz Voices w. the Little Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.
Thu 10: Side Cafe Orkestar @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
The 10: Classic Swing @ Carlisle Rugby Club, Warwick Rd., Carlisle. 8:30pm. £9.
Thu 10: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesborough. 8:30pm. With guests Donna Hewitt (sax); Bill Watson (trumpet); Graham Thompson (keys); Ron Smith (bass). Free.
Fri 11: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 11: Dulcie May Moreno @ The Old Library, Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 11: The Jazz Quartet + Stratosphonic @ Tynedale Rugby Club, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £15.00. A Rotary Club of Hexham event. The Jazz Quartet (Jude Murphy & co), Stratosphonic (blues/rock). CANCELLED!
Fri 11: Joe Steels Trio @ The Pele, Market Place, Corbridge NE45 5AW. 7:30pm. Free.
Fri 11: Crooners @ Tyne Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm.
Fri 11: Mo Scott Band @ Blues Underground, Nelson St., Newcastle. 9:00pm. Free.
Sat 12: Milne-Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 12: Michael Woods @ Victoria Tunnel, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £12.00. (£10.00. adv.). Country blues guitar & vocals.
Sat 12: Nauta @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £13.28, £11.16, £9.04. A two-track recording launch gig.
Sat 12: Stuart Turner @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Rockabilly, rhythm & blues etc. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 12: Lapwing Jazz Trio @ The Ship Inn, Low Newton. 8:00pm. Free. New trio: Paula Whitty, Richard Herdman, Jude Murphy.
Sun 13: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: Emma Wilson @ Tyne Bar, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Blues.
Sun 13: Catfish Keith @ The Cluny. 7:00pm. Country blues.
Sun 13: Cath Stephens & Paul Grainger @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Stephens & Grainger, one third of a triple bill.
Sun 13: Dulcie May Moreno Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Mon 14: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 14: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Hippodrome, Darlington. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman show inspired by Nina Simone, performed by Nicholle Cherrie.
Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law (piano), Paul Grainger (double bass), Bailey Rudd (drums).
Wed 16: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Cath Stephens’ improvisation workshop @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 4:30-6:00pm. Collaborative group focusing on vocal improvisations.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Reviewers wanted
Thursday, December 31, 2020
Joe Williams-What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?
Kansas Smitty's Supersize Band (part 2) - Dec. 31
I missed part 1 but, on Russell's recommendation, I checked out part 2 and it was okay. Not quite what I was expecting but it was interesting if a little esoteric at times.
Jas Kayser set out her stall on the her own Ku Variation soloing whilst Giacomo blew a riff on bass clarinet.
Will Cleasby joined her and the two drummers didn't get in each other's way - their duet on Passion Dance would have had the fans on the second balcony jumping had this been at The Apollo up in Harlem. Kit Downes on B3 also did the business on this one.
BSH New Year's Honours list
Happy New Year to LJN from BSH
Kansas Smitty's Supersize Band (part 1) - Dec. 30
Wednesday, December 30, 2020
Liane Carroll live stream - Dec. 30
That was the year that wasn't
Tuesday, December 29, 2020
Nick Hempton Band live streaming from GB's Juke Joint, NYC - Dec. 28
An absolute gem of a session. GB's Juke Joint isn't, as the name might imply, a neighbourhood bar populated by low-lifes and ne'er-do-wells but a New York recording studio where Nick Hempton recorded Night Owl - reviewed here last year - and which provided some of the material played tonight.
The opener, Back on the Dole Again, got things moving with a nice groove. All four guys at the top of their game. Interestingly, I always thought that being "on the dole" was a purely British expression. Whatever, certainly an appropriate title for today.
Monday, December 28, 2020
A Cool Yule @ Ronnie's - Dec. 28
(Screenshot Ken Drew)
One of the things that I miss about the current situation is not being able to hear the Jason Isaacs Big Band at Hoochie Coochie or Paul Skerritt with James Harrison and Co at various gigs but, at least, this more or less made up for it.
Mackenzie, with Alex Garnett and the house trio behind him, put on a good show playing some great standards. Garnett's tenor solos where outstanding as were those from the other guys. This was, in many ways, an ideal way to merge the quiet celebrations of Christmas and the riotous rave-ups that will take place in Tier 0.
I'm not going to list all the tunes other than to say that What Are You Doing New Years' Eve? absolutely nailed it!
Lance
A collection of collages from Ken
Lance
Sunday, December 27, 2020
Glenn Crytzer live streaming from NYC - Dec. 27, 1927
Art Pepper, Blue Wisp Big Band, Tabasco Pete Webb.
Remembering Jerome Richardson
Saturday, December 26, 2020
Kansas Smitty's Boxing Day Special: Nat Cole's After Midnight - Dec. 26
(Screenshots by Russell)
This most certainly didn't comply with what it said on the tin! Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable way to spend Boxing Day.
The original had trumpet, alto, violin, trombone and drums augmenting the trio and there were a few songs left on the shelf. Still, these days, we have to be thankful for small mercies and, in that respect, it has to be said that Smitty's has excelled itself over this past year.
N'Gonda, as he did when taking on Johnny Hartman, wisely made no attempt to sound like Nat 'King' Cole instead applying his own distinctive voice to the material.
Pete Deuchar with Dick Charlesworth's City Gents - did anyone tape 1961 BBC Jazz Club broadcast?
Aycliffe Radio Jazz Time update
After Midnight at Eight with Nat 'King' Cole - Boxing Day
Friday, December 25, 2020
The Nutcracker Suite live streamed from Kansas Smitty's - Dec. 25
I know a live stream isn't perfect but, unlike one of those live gigs our parents used to go to, at least if you were held up in traffic, or were just held up (take my wallet but don't take my ticket for Duke's concert - he's doing the Nutcracker - oh, you too are into nutcracking? Ouch!) at least you can start from the beginning - or can you?
Tonight's music began before any of tonight's players were born, before, even Duke Ellington himself was born.
It's a La La Land Christmas on BBC 2
Thursday, December 24, 2020
Kansas Smitty's Xmas Eve Miracle on 34th Street
A Peggy for my thoughts
This apparent indifference may be due to Ms Lee, like Sinatra, Nat Cole, Lena Horne and others straddling the ever narrowing line that separates jazz singer from entertainer as if it's not possible to be both. For my money it's essential.
Wednesday, December 23, 2020
A Tale of Two Pianos
Paul Edis was doing his annual Jazzy Christmas, this year on YouTube without his other nine accomplices. Also, on Kansas Smitty's F/b page, Giacomo Smith was talking to pianist Kit Downes about the late Bill Evans - a pianist dear to both Paul and Kit's hearts.
A Shot of Sammy from Simon
Tuesday, December 22, 2020
Album review: Grasso-Ravita Jazz Ensemble - Jagged Spaces
Album review: Simone Kopmajer - Christmas
This is the latest album from Austrian singer Simone Kopmajer, who has been singing since she was a child. Her musical training was in Gratz, where she encountered performers such as Mark Murphy and Sheila Jordan. The album, recorded in the USA, consists of Christmas songs which are generally known, songs in German which I guess will be familiar in Austria, and at least one original written by Ms Kopmajer The Most Wonderful Time.
Monday, December 21, 2020
James Pearson Trio live streaming "A Swinging Christmas" from Ronnie's - Dec. 21
(Screenshot courtesy of Ken Drew)
All good festive fun down at Tier 4 inside Ronnie's. The three musicians did their bit to get us into the Christmas spirit and, at least for 75 minutes they succeeded.
No need for chapter and verse, the three wise musicians came in bearing candles - honestly! you just can't get incense, frankincense or myrr anywhere at this time of year! Behind them angelic voices sang Hark the Herald Angels Sing and Burgess took up the theme playing beautifully toned arco bass before the Almighty - Pearson picked it up.
Dulcie May Quintet live streaming a Wintry Jazz and Blues Session on the eve of Christmas Eve
Christmas may come early if you collect vinyl!
Zoë Gilby Quartet live streaming from The Globe - Dec. 20
(Photos courtesy of Dave Parker)
What a great way to spend a Sunday evening, attending an online gig played by a first class jazz outfit! Thirty or so households did just that, so if you weren't among them, you missed a treat.
The set included songs from the soon-to-be-released CD of the Tom Harrell project; songs from Living In Shadows, another band with which Zoë is connected, and of course some songs from the GASbook. Zoë sang in her unique style with some very lively scat; the songs ranged from the heartfelt love song for her husband (Andy on bass) Sending Electricity; the saloon song I'm Always Drunk In San Francisco; to an account of an intensely terrifying woman, Angela. And it's worth noting that at least 4 of the songs performed were originals with lyrics by Zoë to Andy's music.
Prologue to Zoë Gilby Quartet live streaming from The Globe - Dec. 20
Sunday, December 20, 2020
Album review: Hazar - Reincarnated
Apologies for the delay - the album was released in August - but I was confused. There were two discs leading me to conclude that it was a double album.
Turned out it wasn't. The additional disc is some mystical creation that involves Blue-ray, Dolby Atmos and Auro-3D which "immerses the listener in a cocoon of life-like sound". Wonderful except my humble CD player can't handle anything so complex and I filed it away for if and when ...
In the end I opted for the second disc even though it mean't doing without the "Height" channel configuration.
Greg Hatza ORGANisation live streaming from Keystone Korner - Dec. 19 (through Christmas)
Greg Hatza (organ); Brian Kooken (guitar); Benny Russell (tenor sax); Robert Shahid (drums)
A Christmas Sunday Service with Adrian Cox & Nils Solberg - Dec. 20
Album review: Justin Rothberg Group - Hurricane Mouse
Rothberg, a Bachelor of Music graduate of City College New York, is a new name to me although he has been active Stateside for the past 15 years in a variety of settings across the genres encompassing Broadway shows and touring with Petula Clark.
Saturday, December 19, 2020
SSBB live streaming from Gosforth Civic Theatre - Dec. 19
Album review: Bruce Brown - Death of Expertise.
Along with the I Like Isaac album reviewed the other day there was another gem from The Antipodes (New Zealand this time) in the package - this vocal masterpiece!
If you dig Dave Frishberg then hang around because Bruce Brown, born in LA, is now down under and NZ's answer to Frish. There's also a suggestion of Michael Franks, Bob Dorough maybe even Joe Mooney in Brown's relaxed, laid back performance.
Film review: Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
Happy Holidays: Haruka Kikuchi live streaming from Tokyo - Dec. 19
Good to hear Haruka again. Her Sunday sessions way down yonder in New Orleans were always a delight. Today, however, she was vacationing in Tokyo and jamming with half a dozen Japanese jazz musicians. The drummer did all the announcements in his native tongue, although he did sing I Want a Little Girl in English, so I have no idea of each individual's names.
Jambone performing their version of the Walking in the Air
R.I.P. Jeff Clayton and Stanley Cowell
Sad to report a couple of jazz deaths.
Alto saxist Jeff Clayton: Dec. 16 aged 65.
Pianist Stanley Cowell: Dec. 17 aged 79.
Both sadly missed, May they rest in peace.
Click on the above links for JazzTimes obituary.
Lance
Rico's Xmas Popup Louis - Dec. 18
Friday, December 18, 2020
How I Became Addicted to Jazz. Miles Watson reflects ...
Playback session @ Smitty's - John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman
(Screenshot courtesy of Ken Drew)
John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman - one of the great jazz vocal albums of all time. File it alongside your Sinatra's, Tormé's, Ella's and any other singer you care to name, it's up there with them and not as an also ran. No, that album is the tops.
This, as is the case with all Playback sessions, puts the reviewer and the listener in a predicament. How do you judge it? How do you compare?
One O'Clock Jump - Danny Jonokuchi & The Revisionists
As we hovered on the brink of the first lockdown we looked forward to a performance by American trumpet player and bandleader Danny Jonokuchi with SSBB at Flat Caps Coffee in Newcastle. Unfortunately Danny didn't make it across the pond but did send a video message to the band and the fans.
Now, 9 months later comes the news that Danny Jonokuchi and the Revisionists have won the inaugural Count Basie Great American Swing Contest - see video.
Lance
Book review (sort of): Thulani Davis - Nothing But the Music
Davis paints a verbal picture of smoke filled nightclubs, places where sweat and substance mingle with sounds the 9 to 5 person rarely hears nor understands when he/she does.
Ricky Riccardi - Heartful of Rhythm
I'd emailed Beckerman asking him to send me a link to his review but he failed to reply so I decided against sending him a Christmas card.
However, Steve H came across a review in The Guardian so I'll link up with that one instead.
Lance
Time and Place @ the 606 - Dec. 17
Lance
Thursday, December 17, 2020
Adrian Cox live streaming from Kansas Smitty's - Dec. 17
Book review: Owen Martell - Intermission
On June 25,
1961, the Bill Evans Trio recorded the concerts that would become the albums Sunday Night at the Village Vanguard and Waltz for Debby, two of the defining albums in jazz piano
history, both held in the same high regard as Jarrett’s The Köln Concert.
On the two albums the trio is a fully wedded, integrated unit, not a leader plus sidemen. All three musicians play in and around each other, fully entwined in each other’s performance. Eleven days later bassist Scott LaFaro was killed in a car crash.
Album review: We Like Ike - 100th Birthday Tribute to Jazz Guitar Legend Ike Isaacs
Wednesday, December 16, 2020
Jazz Rehearsed: Adrian Cox live streaming from Golden Gator Jazz Cub - Dec. 16
Adrian Cox (clarinet, vocals); Sven-Erik Lundeqvist (piano).
Alec Harper Quartet: Playback Sonny Rollins "The Bridge". Live stream from Kansas Smitty's - Dec. 16
(Screenshot/collage courtesy of Ken Drew)
Tonight's the real deal. Can't wait, this is going to be something - Sonny Rollins' The Bridge!
The actual Rollins' album kicks off with a rousing version of Without a Song followed by a sumptuous take on Where Are You? Alec and co do likewise - they've read the script. Two out of two so far or should that be ten out of ten?
Book review: Peter Jones: This is Bop - Jon Hendricks and the Art of Vocal Jazz
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.
Blog Archive
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2020
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December
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124
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- Joe Williams-What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?
- Kansas Smitty's Supersize Band (part 2) - Dec. 31
- BSH New Year's Honours list
- Happy New Year to LJN from BSH
- Kansas Smitty's Supersize Band (part 1) - Dec. 30
- Liane Carroll live stream - Dec. 30
- That was the year that wasn't
- Nick Hempton Band live streaming from GB's Juke Jo...
- A Cool Yule @ Ronnie's - Dec. 28
- A collection of collages from Ken
- Live stream tonight (in NYC) or tomorrow (UK) - Ni...
- Glenn Crytzer live streaming from NYC - Dec. 27, 1927
- Art Pepper, Blue Wisp Big Band, Tabasco Pete Webb.
- Remembering Jerome Richardson
- Kansas Smitty's Boxing Day Special: Nat Cole's Aft...
- Pete Deuchar with Dick Charlesworth's City Gents -...
- Aycliffe Radio Jazz Time update
- After Midnight at Eight with Nat 'King' Cole - Box...
- The Nutcracker Suite live streamed from Kansas Smi...
- It's a La La Land Christmas on BBC 2
- Duke Ellington's Christmas Nutcracker
- Kansas Smitty's Xmas Eve Miracle on 34th Street
- A Peggy for my thoughts
- A Tale of Two Pianos
- A Jazzy Christmas - Paul Edis (and no friends!)
- A Shot of Sammy from Simon
- Album review: Grasso-Ravita Jazz Ensemble - Jagged...
- Album review: Simone Kopmajer - Christmas
- James Pearson Trio live streaming "A Swinging Chri...
- Dulcie May Quintet live streaming a Wintry Jazz an...
- Christmas may come early if you collect vinyl!
- Zoë Gilby Quartet live streaming from The Globe - ...
- Prologue to Zoë Gilby Quartet live streaming from ...
- Album review: Hazar - Reincarnated
- Greg Hatza ORGANisation live streaming from Keysto...
- A Christmas Sunday Service with Adrian Cox & Nils ...
- Album review: Justin Rothberg Group - Hurricane Mouse
- SSBB live streaming from Gosforth Civic Theatre - ...
- Album review: Bruce Brown - Death of Expertise.
- Film review: Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
- Happy Holidays: Haruka Kikuchi live streaming from...
- Jambone performing their version of the Walking in...
- R.I.P. Jeff Clayton and Stanley Cowell
- Rico's Xmas Popup Louis - Dec. 18
- How I Became Addicted to Jazz. Miles Watson reflec...
- Playback session @ Smitty's - John Coltrane & John...
- One O'Clock Jump - Danny Jonokuchi & The Revisionists
- Book review (sort of): Thulani Davis - Nothing But...
- Ricky Riccardi - Heartful of Rhythm
- Time and Place @ the 606 - Dec. 17
- Adrian Cox live streaming from Kansas Smitty's - D...
- Book review: Owen Martell - Intermission
- Album review: We Like Ike - 100th Birthday Tribute...
- Jazz Rehearsed: Adrian Cox live streaming from Gol...
- Alec Harper Quartet: Playback Sonny Rollins "The B...
- Book review: Peter Jones: This is Bop - Jon Hendri...
- Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival Online - Dec.30
- Kansas Smitty's live streaming Louis Armstrong's T...
- The Last (virtual) Jam of the Year @ The Black Swa...
- Live Streamin' @ the 606
- Born and died this day (Dec. 15)
- Soul Music: What a Wonderful World - Radio 4 Extra
- Remembering Clark Terry.
- Clark Terry Jazz 625
- Tribute to Clark Terry Born December 14, 1920 Ha...
- Keep On Keepin' On - The Clark Terry Story (born 1...
- Film preview: Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
- McCreadie tops international chart
- Francis Tulip Quintet livestreaming from The Globe...
- Whispering Voices from the Gosforth Hotel
- Album review: Kristiana Roemer – House of Mirrors
- Strictly Smokin' Big Band Lockdown Live stream #6 ...
- Sunday Service with Adrian Cox & Will Barry - Dec. 13
- PERFECT FOR 10. Paul Edis/Vasilis Xenopoulos Quart...
- Kansas Smitty's Goes to Collage (courtesy of Ken D...
- Evan Christopher & Don Vappie live streaming from ...
- Aycliffe Radio Playlist - Sunday Dec. 13
- Remembering Sam Walker
- Alec Harper Quartet livestreaming from Kansas Smit...
- Rico's Popup Louis - Dec. 11
- Tonight @ 9:00pm - The Royal Bopsters On Ronnie Sc...
- Hexagonal - The Temple of Juno
- The World is our oyster
- Live streaming Christmas with the Ronnie Scott's A...
- Kansas Smitty's House Band live streaming from Kan...
- 4.5m ÷ 12 = ✔✔✔
- Emma Fisk's Hot Club du Nord live-streaming from t...
- A message from Daryl Sherman
- Phoebe Katis: Soul-pop & folk - LIVE Concert at Ho...
- Alec Harper live streaming from Kansas Smitty's - ...
- Album review: Jonathan Parker - The Remainder
- Live stream preview: Francis Tulip Quintet @ The G...
- Album review: Collette Cooper – Lost
- Where there's a Will there's Kansas Smitty's - Dec. 8
- Gosforth Civic Theatre says "Thank you".
- Best Albums of 2020 (Editor's choice)
- More Online Radio
- Billie Holiday: A Concert Celebration live streami...
- Fergus McCreadie Trio live streaming from the Jazz...
- Hot Club du Nord news
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December
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