Total Pageviews

Bebop Spoken There

Charles McPherson: “Jazz is best heard in intimate places”. (DownBeat, July, 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

16611 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 1504 of them this year alone and, so far, 50 this month (July 23).

From This Moment On ...

July

Sat 27: BBC Proms: BBC Introducing stage @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 12 noon. Free. Line-up inc. Nu Groove (2:00pm); Abbie Finn Trio (2:50pm); Dilutey Juice (3:50pm); SwanNek (5:00pm); Rivkala (6:00pm).
Sat 27: Nomade Swing Trio @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sat 27: Mississippi Dreamboats @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sat 27: Milne-Glendinning Band @ Cafédral, Owengate, Durham. 9:00pm. £9.00. & £6.00. A Durham Fringe Festival event.
Sat 27: Theon Cross + Knats @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 10:00pm. £22.00. BBC Proms: BBC Introducing Stage (Sage Two). A late night gig.

Sun 28: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm.
Sun 28: Miss Jean & the Ragtime Rewind Swing Band @ Fonteyn Ballroom, Dunelm House (Durham Students’ Union), Durham. 2:00pm. £9.00. & £6.00. A Durham Fringe Festival event.
Sun 28: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: Nomade Swing Trio @ Red Lion, Alnmouth. 4:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 28: Jeffrey Hewer Collective @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 28: Milne Glendinning Band @ Cafédral, Owengate, Durham. 9:00pm. £9.00. & £6.00. A Durham Fringe Festival event.

Mon 29: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 30: ???

Wed 31: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 31: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 31: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

August

Thu 01: Gateshead Jazz Appreciation Society @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:30pm. £4.00.
Thu 01: Funky Drummer @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 01: Elsadie & the Bobcats @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 02: Mainly Two @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free (donations). SOLD OUT! Fri 02: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 02: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 02: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 02: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. POSTPONED!

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)

at

No comments :

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )

Blog Archive