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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, February 08, 2021

Album review: Allan Harris – Kates Soulfood*

It's debatable as to whether or not this  fine album should actually be reviewed on BSH as it is more soul music than jazz, though I'm no soul expert. This is Harris's fourteenth release as a leader and the ten original songs were written as both a history and a tribute to Harlem in NYC.

The title comes from Harris's Aunt Kate's well-loved luncheonette which was behind the Apollo Theater. The songs draw on our singer's childhood memories and the atmosphere of Harlem which gave music, literature, history and a sense of belonging to its residents. Harris has a pleasant baritone voice, he sings with feeling, and the songwriting is skilled. There are short jazz-like solos, mostly from piano, guitar and harmonica, and interesting lyrics, such as (Open Up) 'Love is the fruit of mankind, we must pick it from the vine' and (One More Notch, about a boy with a gun) 'we must live as one, put down your gun.'

The album opens with lively restaurant chat, then Harris sings about growing up in Harlem; Wash Away My Sins combines gospel with a love song; 99 Miles is about being on the road and also a love song; New Day is about making the most of each day. Feelgood themes. The track I liked best is very much of the moment, Run Through America, a driving rhythm and lyrics about the current situation of the black community in the USA and how it has to change, mentioning, for example,  George Floyd, ending with repeated choruses of 'run through America'

The album will be released on Friday of this week on the Love Productions label, and is available from the usual suspects.

Ann Alex  

* The title spells Kates without an apostrophe. The blurb includes  an apostrophe!

Try/buy.

Allan Harris (voice, guitars); Shirazette Tinnin (drums); Nimrod Speaks (bass); Arcoiris Sandoval (piano); Gregoire Maret (harmonica); David Castaneda (percussion); Curtis Taylor (trumpet); Alex Budman (alto sax); Keith Fiddmont (tenor sax); Ondre J Pivec (organ); + Tonga Ross-Mau (guitar track 6); + Marty Kenney (bass) Jhair Sala (perc); Carolyn Leonhart (Background vox) all on final track

I Grew Up (Kate's Place); One More Notch (Put down your Gun); Wash Away My Sins; Open Up; Shallow Man; Color Of A Woman Is Blu; 99 Miles; Autumn Has Found You; New Day; Run Through America

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