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Farewell Blues

R I P Terry Shannon - November 5, 1929 - October 29, 2022
R I P Oliver Soden - ? - November 6, 2022
R I P Top Cat Daphne - ? - November 24, 2022.
R I P Louise Tobin - November 11, 1918 - November 26, 2022

Bebop Spoken There

Kenny Barron: "During the pandemic I got to do a lot more cooking. As long as you can read you can cook." - (DownBeat December, 2022)

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

14865 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 14 years ago. 1114 of them this year alone and, so far, 20 this month (Dec. 6).

From This Moment On ...

December

Thu 08: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Last one of the year, resuming Jan 26.
Thu 08: Gateshead Jazz Appreciation Society @ Gateshead Central Library. 3:00-5:00pm. £1.00. All welcome.
Thu 08: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm.
Thu 08: Christmas Crooners @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm.
Thu 08: Musicians Unlimited @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. £5.00. on the door.

Fri 09: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Spanish City, Whitley Bay. 12 noon. £25.00. 'Afternoon Jazz with Festive Lunch'.
Fri 09: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 09: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.
Fri 09: Jason Isaacs @ Northern Rugby Club, Gosforth, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £25.00 (inc. two course Xmas meal). Isaacs performing with backing tapes.

Sat 10: Lindsay Hannon & Martin Douglas: Life Drawing & Improvised Music @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 2:00-4:00pm. TBC.
Sat 10: Alan Barnes Octet: A Jazz Xmas Carol @ Black Swan, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £20.00. All-star band!

Sun 11: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Spanish City, Whitley Bay. 12 noon.
Sun 11: Spanish City Rollers @ Northumberland Square, North Shields. 12:30pm. Free. Community band inc. Graham Hardy.
Sun 11: Am Jam @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 3:00pm. Free. Jam session, all welcome.
Sun 11: Musicians Unlimited @ Park Inn, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Xmas party feat. Mick Donnelly Quartet. 4:00pm. Tickets: £6.00 (admission from 12 noon).
Sun 11: Paul Skerritt @ Liberty Brown's, Sunderland. 1:00pm.
Sun 11: Tees Valley Jazzmen @ Hammer & Pincers, Preston le Skerne. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Sun 11: Foundry Jazz Ensemble @ The Exchange, North Shields. 3:00pm.
Sun 11: DC Blues Band @ Tyne Bar, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Blues Band.
Sun 11: Jason Isaacs @ Hoochie Coochie, Newcastle. 5:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Sun 11: Boys of Brass @ Stack, Seaburn. 6:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Elda with Faye MacCalman + John Pope & John Garner @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 12: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Mon 12: Central Bar Quintet plays Kind of Blue @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 7:30pm. Concert performance + jam session. £5.00 (free admission to sitters-in).

Tue 13: Paul Skerritt @ The Rabbit Hole, Durham. 7:00pm. Free (table reservations 0191 386 5556). Feat. Johnny Murphy (keyboards).
Tue 13: Jam session @ Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. House trio: Murray Wankling, John Pope, John Bradford.
Tue 13: Abbie Finn Trio @ Forum Music Centre, Darlington. 7:30pm. Xmas party.
Tue 13: King Bees @ Cumberland Arms, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Superb Chicago Blues Band.

Wed 14: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 14: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 14: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:00pm.
Wed 14: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thursday, May 13, 2021

SNJO, Paul Towndrow/Ornette Coleman: Where Rivers Meet - May 12

(Screenshot by Russell)
Edinburgh's twelfth century St Giles' Cathedral served as a spectacular stage on this first evening of four dedicated to the music of four celebrated free jazz pioneers. Socially distanced members of the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra took to the stage under the watchful eye of its founder, Artistic Director, Tommy Smith. This evening's focus would be on the music of Ornette Coleman. 

(Screenshot by Russell)
The term 'free jazz' is often used to describe, or simply categorise, Coleman's music. The abandonment of chordal and harmonic elements were considered to be 'free', yet Coleman produced many melodic tunes, 'tunes' being anything but a derogatory term! Alto saxophonist Paul Towndrow (SNJO, Brass Jaw etc) would perform three pieces composed by the American. 



(Screenshot by Russell)
The participation of visual artist Maria Rud painting in real time alongside the SNJO ensemble proved to be an inspired move. Physically animated, Rud literally jumping around in time to the visceral power of the music, the on-the-spot results were quite something. Vivid, rapid brushstrokes, palms and fingers applying her chosen medium, the scraping away, the urgent reapplication of the medium (paint?), all projected onto a stained-glass window high above the assembly. 

Towndrow's interpretation and execution of Coleman's compositions could be described as 'triumphant'. The SNJO's brilliant rhythm section - Pete Johnstone, Calum Gourlay and Alyn Cosker - pushed, and pushed again, demanding more and more of Towndrow. This evening's soloist rose to the occasion as did the SNJO ensemble (all the expected names were present, as were two newer recruits, trumpeters James Copus and Christos Stylinades*). Towndrow's laser-like focus and sheer physicality of his alto playing set the standard. The three remaining concert soloists have it all to do. The second performance in this Where Rivers Meet project on Thursday (May 13) features SNJO tenor saxophonist Konrad Wiszniewski playing the music of Dewey Redman. To register for the live stream visit: www.snjo.co.uk.  

* It's been a while since BSH last heard the SNJO, hence Stylinades and Copus are the new boys!    
Russell

Set list: Lonely Woman; Broadway Blues; Peace.

Jim Davison, James Copus, Christos Stylinades (trumpets); Kieran McLeod, Liam Shortall, Michael Owers (trombones); Konrad Wiszniewski, Martin Kershaw, Paul Towndrow, Tommy Smith MD, Bill Fleming (reeds); Pete Johnstone (piano); Calum Gourlay (double bass); Alyn Cosker (drums)

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