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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

Thu 28: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 28: Gateshead Jazz Appreciation Society @ Gateshead Central Library, Gateshead. 2:30pm.
Thu 28: Richard Herdman Quartet @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 28: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Guests: Josh Bentham (alto sax); Alan Marshall (tenor sax); Neil Brodie (trumpet); Adrian Beadnell (bass); Graham Thompson (keys); Steve Hunter (drums).

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.

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.

Thursday, May 06, 2021

Luke Smith: Livestream from Ronnie Scott's - May 6

(Screenshot by Ken Drew)
Luke Smith (keys); Richie Garrison (tenor/soprano sax); Sid Gauld (trumpet/flugel); Charlie Allen (guitar); David Mrakpor (bass guitar); Josh McNasty (drums) + Joy Rose.

A pleasant surprise, I say surprise as, having led a sheltered life, I was unfamiliar, apart from Smith, with the musicians and, with me, unfamiliarity often breeds contempt. Not so tonight, tonight was a nice groovy mix of funk, jazz, rock and related genres that, as the night progressed, dug deeper and deeper into my soul.

It all began very sedately with Smith producing some symphonic synthesised string sounds from the sea of keyboards he was swimming in. The piece was, appropriately, called The Beginning - Prologue. Travelling, that brought the full band in had a funky groove with a guitar blast by Allen that made me think I was back at Woodstock.

(Screenshot by Ken Drew)
Keyboarder Smith produced some B3 sounds on Message to Brazil before deciding that, as he was in a jazz club, he'd better play some jazz! He opted for Herbie's Cantaloupe Island which gave Gauld and Garrison a rare opportunity to solo. Most of the time they were operating as a horn section.

Throughout, Mrakpor was impressive getting a great sound from his five string electric. I couldn't tell you the make as the fingerboard was so long that I'd have needed a pair of binoculars to read the name on the head-stock!

The Best is Yet to Come, an original by Smith was played as a solo and it exuded sensitivity. New Dawn led to True Love (nothing to do with Cole Porter!) that introduced Joy Rose who, I gather, had prerecorded her part as she was heard but not seen. The horns, on flugel and soprano respectively, had solos and, after It's Time, Garrison had a feature on Babylon.

(Collage by Ken Drew)
The session finished with a free for all, including backing vocals from the in-house staff, on We're Going Home - not to be confused with the Vieux Carré Jazzmen's version of a similarly titled tune. This one had an extended quote from My Favorite Things - over to you VCJ!

Nice session and, if the band ever go north, don't go to Manchester - Luke's home town - go to Newcastle and Hoochie Coochie. You belong with each other ...

Lance

PS: Josh McNasty was wicked!

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