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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.

Monday, May 31, 2021

R.I.P Colin Haikney

(Archive photo)
Rarely a day goes by without a hero, a legend or just a fine musician leaving us.

Pianist Colin Haikney, who sadly passed away last night, was all of that and more. When someone dies it's, seemingly, obligatory to say what a great musician he was, his dry sense of humour, a true gentleman - in fact  everything but the truth!

Fortunately however, in Colin's case all those attributes are very much true and if there was ever a poll to find a musician who ticked all of those boxes then Colin Haikney would be up there in the frame.

In a career that covered the whole scene from dance bands, cruises, clubs, jazz groups, big bands and, most recently, Classic Swing, Colin was the man. 

Until the pandemic did what the Luftwaffe couldn't do, Classic Swing held court at Ye Olde Ship pub in Monkseaton, Colin remained in the background until the spotlight was on him which was when the audience realised that this was not just another piano player! 

Let's hope that Classic Swing will be back soon although whoever takes over at the keyboard will have some mighty big boots to fill.

RIP Colin Haikney. As another pianist frequently said - We Love You Madly. Lance

5 comments :

David Francis (on F/b) said...

Sorry to hear this Lance

Dave Kerr said...

Colin was an outstanding pianist and I heard of his reputation years ago being extolled by Perter Gascoyne and Scotty Adair amongst others. It was only recently when he played with the New Century Ragtime Orchestra that I got to know him. Don Fairly suggested him to us
saying "He never makes a mistake!" I found him a very likable and witty man
he was a tower of strength at band rehearsals a true professional.

Classic Swing said...

"We were very sad to hear about Colin's death on Monday. He'd had a very successful career in music and was still playing into his eighties, before his health issues took priority, he's had a tough time of late. We've been so fortunate to have had Colin on Keys in "Classic Swing", he was such talented guy and a great accompanist as well as being a nice guy, with a great sense of humour, he will be a great miss on the North East music scene.
Our resident sax player/composer/arranger Tommy Moran wrote a composition dedicated to Colin, and called it "The Masters Magic", and that title just about sums up how highly we regarded him! Tommy also wrote a second composition for Colin, "The Master Returns", as we were half expecting Colin to return to the band if his health allowed. Sadly that's not going to be the case now, although Tommy did get to play his composition to Colin over the telephone!

Greatly missed! RIP Colin.

Roly said...

Such sad news. Colin played at Blaydon quite a few times over the years and it was always a privilege to have him. A lovely person and a complete master musician.

Mike Carton said...

With sadness I learned just a few days ago from Tommy Moran , of Colin's passing . News of the North East jazz scene travels slowly to Pennsylvania USA where I'm based these days/daze .
Colin and I shared the stage infrequently , but I remember he was the consummate pianist in any ensemble we were in at any particular time .
BUT , there is a subtle but important distinction between a musician and an instrumentalist Colin brought this home to me only once - Rick Taylor and I asked him to join " Collaboration " that short-lived maniacal outfit in the '80s . The music was complex , challenging and ' different ' . After a couple of rehearsals Colin told Rick and I that he couldn't commit to the band . I will never forget his answer when we asked him why he had made that decision , an answer which highlights just how GREAT a musician he was . He said , ' Sorry lads , but I won't be able to do justice to the project " . How many of us have 'bluffed ' our way through a gig ? Well , Colin was above that . A musician of the first order . I regret that we shared the stage so infrequently during my time in the North East . I offer my belated condolences to Stuart and the family .

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