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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, 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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