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Bebop Spoken There

Kurt Elling: ''There's something to learn from every musician you play with''. (DownBeat, December 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

17630 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 904 of them this year alone and, so far, 49 this month (Dec. 20).

From This Moment On ...

December

Tue 24: Lindsay Hannon & Mark Williams @ Ernest, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 11:00am-1:00pm. Free.
Tue 24: Paul Skerritt @ Mambo Wine & Dine, South Shields. 1:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.

Wed 25: Wot? No jazz!

Thu 26: The Boneshakers @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. The 17th annual Boneshakers’ Shindig.

Fri 27: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free. Business as usual!.
Fri 27: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 27: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

Sat 28: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 11:30am. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 28: Fri 20: Castillo Nuevo @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Sat 28: Jude Murphy, Rich Herdman & Giles Strong @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 28: Ray Stubbs R & B All-Stars @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Stepney Bank, Newcastle. 9:00pm. Free.

Sun 29: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 29: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 30: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 30: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Wheatsheaf, Benton Sq., Whitley Road, Palmersville NE12 9SU. Tel: 0191 266 8137. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 30: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

Thursday, January 14, 2021

The London Supersax Project livestreaming from Ronnie Scott's - Jan. 14

(Screenshots by Ken Drew).

This was, in effect, what Kansas Smitty's would call a Playback Session with the front man giving the audience the background to how it all happened. Explaining how Med Flory, Warne Marsh and others transcribed famous Charlie Parker solos for five saxes which were then released as Supersax.

At Ronnie's no mention was made of the original Supersax although Charlie Parker's connection to the tunes, most of which he composed, was detailed - cutting out the middle man one might say. The lesser informed may have thought this was something new.

However, all that aside, this was a stonking set with the five saxes reading the parts with such accuracy that it was incredible to speculate on how much or how little rehearsal time they'd had.

Surprisingly, given that this was a sax orientated session, most of the solos went to trumpeter Steve Fishwick who took on the role of Conte Candoli and did it well. Upon reflection, as the saxes were playing Charlie Parker solos as a section, how were they, the saxes, going to improve on what Bird had laid down?

When they were let loose, boy did they go to town! On Moose the Mooche, Garnett, Mayne and Richardson hit pay-dirt with their solos. The Adrenalin flow was upped with the exchanges which progressed in ever decreasing measures ultimately ending up with one bar individual salvos. It was a close thing but I think Richardson shaded it by a demi-semi-quaver.

At the other end of the line, Barford and Allen went toe to toe on Koko. The jury's still out. Skelton also parradiddled on this one.

As ever, Pearson did the piano part to perfection and Conor Chaplin's bass solo impressed on Parker's Mood

Other numbers were Cool Blues; Just Friends; Groovin' High; Star Eyes and A Night in Tunisia with the saxes playing what came to be known as "The famous alto break".

The finale was Salt Peanuts. I'd got a packet of crisps for my supper but it didn't stop me shouting "Salt Peanuts" at the appropriate moments.

Excellent!
Lance

Alex Garnett, Sammy Mayne (alto sax); Tom Barford, Brandon Allen (tenor sax), Leo Richardson (baritone sax); Steve Fishwick (trumpet); James Pearson (piano); Conor Chapman (bass); Matt Skelton (drums).

1 comment :

Russell said...

A great session, exemplary section work from the all-star saxophones.

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