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Bebop Spoken There

Ambrose Akinmusire: “ I am certainly always aware of what the masses are doing. And when I see too many people going one way, I'm going another way - even when I don't know what's over that way". DownBeat, March, 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

Tue 19: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Tim Johnston.

Wed 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 20: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 20: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 21: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 21: Castillo Neuvo Trio + Conor Emery & His ‘Bones Band @ The Grove, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £10.00. (£7.00. student).
Thu 21: Remi Banklyn + Chris Corcoran Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.50. Chicago blues. An International Guitar Foundation promotion.
Thu 21: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Ragtime piano.
Thu 21: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 22: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 22: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 22: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 22: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 22: Nauta + Remy CB + Last Orders @ Hoochie Coochie, Newcastle. 8:30pm (7:30pm doors). Free.
Fri 22: Vasilis Xenopoulos-Paul Edis Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £15.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 22: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 23: Jambone @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Free (ticketed). End of term performance in the Northern Rock Foundation Hall.
Sat 23: Milne-Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 23: Red Kites Jazz @ Rowlands Gill Community Centre NE39 1JB. 7:00pm. Tickets: £12.00. (gibsidecommunityfarm@gmail.com). A ‘Build a Barn’ fundraiser. BYOB, tea/coffee available.
Sat 23: New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00. + bf (book in person at venue - no booking fee!). Featuring pianist Martin Litton.
Sat 23: Pete Tanton’s Cuba Libre @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 24: Musicians Unlimited @ Park Inn, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 24: Luis Verde @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. Verde (alto sax); Joe Steels (guitar); John Pope (double bass); John Hirst (drums). Alto sax brilliance!
Sun 24: Elsie Franklin @ The Globe, Newcastle. 3:00pm. £10.00. Country blues. An International Guitar Foundation promotion.
Sun 24: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay Metro Station. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: Las Vegas Live with the Rat Pack @ The Forum, Billingham.
Sun 24: Ian Millar & Dominic Spencer @ Otterburn Memorial Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Sun 24: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Note start time - 7:00pm.
Sun 24: Bold Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 25: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Wednesday, April 07, 2021

Album Review: Lovesome Thing – Anaïs Reno sings Ellington & Strayhorn

Anaïs Reno (vocals); Emmet Cohen (piano, leader, arranger); Russell Hall (bass); Kyle Poole (drums); + on some tracks Tivon Pennicott (saxophone);
Juliet Kurtzman (violin)

Here is a woman singer who stands out from the rest. Ms Reno recorded this album last year at the age of just 16, her debut CD, which is a tribute to the music of Ellington and Strayhorn. A very brave venture, considering that those composers are iconic and their songs have been covered by just about every other singer in the world! Our singer wanted to do this music, stating that she felt an affinity with the composers.

Ms Reno had already gained many honours, including the platinum award at the 2016 Forte International Competition at Carnegie Hall.  Growing up in New York City and taking voice lessons from the age of 8, the first jazz song she tackled was At Last and from that time she was hooked on jazz. Advised by her father, a retired opera singer, young Anaïs performed at open mic nights from the age of 12, and landed her first gig at the age of 13.

The album is enjoyable, with skilled singing and clever instrumentation, and no-one could argue with the choice of songs. The voice is already quite mature and even more maturity will develop with age, which will be especially suitable for bluesy numbers such as Mood Indigo. The interpretation of the lyric even now is immaculate.

Tracks that stand out include Caravan, with a percussion introduction and the voice crying 'freedom' in an eastern style; Mood Indigo which has a skilled violin solo played by Ms Reno's mother; Still In Love, where our singer shows her ability to swing; the wordless singing of the tune on Chelsea Bridge; a heartfelt rendering of the Covid-appropriate song It's Kind Of Lonesome Out Tonight. The song I liked the most was Strayhorn's Lush Life, just voice and piano, portraying the biting loneliness of a degraded lifestyle. Our singer wisely leaves us smiling on the final track, with a lively, snappy, Take The ‘A’ Train.

It is worth noting the excellent playing of Emmet Cohen, jazz pianist, educator, and composer, who has won many awards, including the 2019 American Pianist Award, and who has collaborated with many well-known artists such as Benny Golson and Kurt Elling. Ms Reno is keeping good musical company. A singer to watch for the future.

The album is available on Harbinger Records and everywhere from April 16.

See www.anaisreno.com

Ann Alex

Caravan; Mood Indigo; Still In Love; Chelsea Bridge/A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing; I'm Just A Lucky So And So; It's Kind Of Lonesome Out Tonight; Day Dream; I Ain't Got Nothing But The Blues; All Roads Lead Back To You; U.M.M.G. (Upper Manhattan Medical Group); Lush Life; Take The 'A' Train.

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