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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

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.
Fri 29: True Colours @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 9:00pm. Blues, jazz & swing.

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.

Thu 04: FILM: Soul @ Forum Cinema, Hexham. 2:00pm. Jazz-themed film animation.
Thu 04: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 04: Funky Drummer @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 04: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 04: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Friday, May 07, 2021

Ten MORE Underrated Jazz Musicians Part Two

4. Leo Wright (1933-1991)

Anyone who heard this fine musician live or on record would have been impressed by his distinctive sound on both alto sax and flute. Plus his incredible technique. Just listen to his work on Dizzy Gillespie’s recording of Gillespiana, one of the greatest albums of all time in my opinion. In 1963 he re-located to Europe being based in Berlin and appearing at various Jazz Clubs in France, Germany, and Sweden etc. He was also to be seen playing in the all-star Berlin Dream Band which during the Berlin Jazz Festival backed  Stan Kenton, Gil Evans and many more. He also was involved along with fellow altoist Herb Geller in the running of a Jazz Club on Bundesalle, the Jazz Gallery. He later moved to Vienna where he died from heart failure.

5. Pony Poindexter (1926-1988)

Born in New Orleans, he played gigs around the San Francisco Bay area with various small groups and then things came to a halt when he was drafted. He played alto sax in Army bands mainly in Italy and when the war ended he spent  a short time in New York listening to Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie and being influenced by the early sounds of be-bop. He later spent time with the Lionel Hampton Big Band before moving to Europe for a 17 year stay which included 8 years in Spain. He wrote a very revealing biography in 1985 entitled The Pony Express-Memoirs of a Jazz Musician which gives an insight into the ups and downs of the jazz life.

6. Carmel Jones   (1936-1996)

This fine trumpeter made a big impression on the jazz scene when at the age of 24 he recorded for producer Richard Bock the brilliant album The Remarkable Carmel Jones on the Pacific Jazz label. Born in Kansas City, after Army service he gigged around the Los Angeles area, made a few more LPs for Pacific Jazz and in 1965 decided to try his luck in Germany where he joined the Berlin Dream Band and a number of radio bands throughout Europe. He also played a few dates at Manchester’s Club 43 during this period and I attended one of these and he played some fiery solos backed by the house trio. Jones should played a gig at the Royal Exchange Theatre with Johnny Griffin but for reasons unknown, his place was taken by Jimmy Deuchar. Jones eventually returned to Kansas City, did some teaching, played some local jazz spots and died age 62.        

Mike Farmer

2 comments :

Lance said...

Good choices! They bring to mind a couple of other underrated musicians.
I heard Leo Wright with Dizzy at Newcastle City Hall in the early 1960s. Also on the bill was John Coltrane with Eric Dolphy on alto and bass clarinet. Wright made a much greater impression on me than Dolphy did. In the band, on guitar was Les Spann who was equally impressive on flute.

At the San Sebastian Festival in 1973 I heard Pony P with Tete Montoliu on piano. A superb pianist.

Mike Farmer said...

Tele Monteliu was one that I nearly included in my list of underrated jazz musicians. I heard him live in a small room during the North Sea Jazz Festival. He had George Mraz on bass and I heard them play just one tune, Blue Bossa. They nailed it and I regret not staying to hear more more but at the North Sea Festival you had to keep on the move

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