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Bebop Spoken There

Abbie Finn: "Even though there's a lot of great work being done to promote women in jazz, I still come up against some attitudes! I pulled up at a recording session with my drums in the car and the studio owner said, 'I'm sorry, this space is reserved for the drummer!'" - (Jazzwise April 2023).

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

15245 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 264 of them this year alone and, so far, 77 this month (March 25).

From This Moment On ...

March

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited @ Park Inn, Hartlepool. 1:00pm.
Sun 26: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 3:00pm.
Mar 26: Pop Jazz @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. 'Jazzified' tunes by the likes of Sylvester, Bowie, the Monkees etc., feat. Alan Law, David Gray, Richard Herdman & Jude Murphy.
Sun 26: Outlines @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. JNE promotion (upstairs).

Mon 27: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.

Tue 28: Paul Skerritt @ The Rabbit Hole, Hallgarth St., Durham DH1 3AT. 7:00pm. Paul Skerritt's (solo) weekly residency.
Tue 28: Sanaz Lavasani Trio @ Black Swan, Newcastle Arts Centre. 8:00pm. £12.00 (£10.00. adv).

Wed 29: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 29: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 29: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:00pm.
Wed 29: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thu 30: Gateshead Jazz Appreciation Society @ Gateshead Central Library. 2:30-4:30pm. £2.00. All welcome.
Thu 30: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. Back to 1:00pm stomp off. Free.
Thu 30: '58 Jazz Collective @ Hops & Cheese, Hartlepool. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 30: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Harbour View, Sunderland. 8:00pm.
Thu 30: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Fri 31: Lewis Watson Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Town Hall. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 31: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 31: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 31: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm. CANCELLED! Back next week (April 7).
Fri 31: Jasmine Myra + Waclaw Zimpel @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Fri 31: The Revolutionaires @ The Shack, Boldon Colliery. 7:30pm. £10.00. The Revolutionaires' big band (horn section) line-up.
Fri 31: Andrew McCormack @ Maltings, Berwick. 8:00pm. £20.00.

April
Sat 01: The Big Easy @ St Augustine's Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm.
Sat 01: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. Tutor: Steve Glendinning - In a Minor Key. £25.00. Enrol at: www.jazz.coop.
Sat 01: Hot Club du Nord @ Pleased to Meet You, Bridge St., Morpeth. 8:00pm. £79.00. A charity fundraising event.
Sat 01: Boys of Brass @ Stack, Seaburn. 7:00-9:00pm.
Sat 01: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00. RESCHEDULED to next week (Sat 08).

Thursday, March 18, 2021

Midweek at Small's (Mar. 15-16)

Joe Farnsworth Quartet - Mar. 15 

Eric Alexander (tenor sax); Keith Brown (piano); Peter Washington (double bass); Joe Farnsworth (drums) 

Drummer Joe Farnsworth never fails to bring in an ace band whenever he's got a gig at Small's. This evening he called on the services of tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander (the pair first worked together something like twenty five years ago). Bassist Peter Washington regularly shares the stand with Farnsworth and, on this occasion, BSH's first sighting of pianist Keith Brown. A familiar set list (call that a bonus) enabled the listener to get a handle on what they could do, individually and collectively. Brown impressed, the NYC scene seems to have an endless supply of top class pianists. 

Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise set the ball rolling and for the next hour it was the Eric Alexander show. Turbo charged tenor playing a la British modernists (past and present), this was thrilling stuff. Announcements on or off Small's PA are often difficult to hear, but it became apparent that tunes were being called on the stand. Drifting on a Reed? A nod of heads, of course they knew it! Similarly Nancy with the Laughing Face and The Song is You, Alexander taking no prisoners. An excellent set.   

Set list: Softly, as in a Morning SunriseDrifting on a ReedNancy with the Laughing FaceThe Song is You

Frank Lacy Septet - Mar. 16

Frank Lacy (trombone); Stacy Dillard (tenor sax); David Lee Jones (alto sax); Greg Glassman (trumpet); Jon Elbaz (piano); Simon Wilson (double bass); Evan Sherman (drums) 

Ex-Jazz Messenger and long serving Mingus Big Band trombonist Frank Lacy bossed a cracking septet presenting what amounted to a Jazz Messengers/Blue Note set. Four horns (all top drawer) and a rhythm section to die for (drummer Evan Sherman an Art Blakey for the 21st century) attacked each tune in a manner not dissimilar to the outfits led by Blakey and Mingus. 

An animated Lacy called the shots with the soloists stepping up to the plate. Aquarius Rising, as recorded by Lacy with Art Blakey, set the pace and for the next hour there was no let up. Tunes by Freddie Hubbard and Wayne Shorter, Lacy gesticulating as much as conducting, appeared to be enjoying himself! As The Soulful Mr.Timmons closed a thrilling set, one online comment read: Oh man, call the fire department.    
Russell

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