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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

Mon 23: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Wheatsheaf, Benton Sq., Whitley Road, Palmersville NE12 9SU. Tel: 0191 266 8137. 1:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Mon 23: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 4:00pm. Free.
Mon 23: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Mon 23: Milne-Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.

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.

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

Wednesday, May 05, 2021

XPQ: Vasilis Xenopoulos-Nigel Price Quartet live streaming from Guildford Jazz - May 5

(Screenshot by Russell)
Vasilis Xenopoulos (tenor sax); Nigel Price (guitar); Dario Di Lecce (double bass); Winston Clifford (drums)

The Boileroom is a music, arts and community venue Guildford Jazz calls home. This evening's concert featured XPQ, a quartet co-led by tenor saxophonist Vasilis Xenopoulos and guitarist Nigel Price alongside regular bassist Dario Di Lecce and ace drummer Winston Clifford. The set would draw upon XPQ's 2017 album Sidekicks comprising tunes written by famous saxophone-guitar collaborations.

(Screenshot by Russell)

The boys kicked-off with Lyresto (comp. J. Coltrane & K. Burrell). Sound balance just about right, a relaxed opening. Local lad Dave Cliff (Blaydon-on-Tyne) composed The Right Time with Geoff Simkins, and Price did justice to his fellow six-stringer, Dario Di Lecce chipping in with a concise solo followed by a polished round of fours.

(Screenshot by Russell)

Xenopoulos introduced If Ever I Will Leave You (comp. S. Rollins & J. Hall), not from the XPD album but definitely worthy of a place in tonight's set list. Taken with a Latin lilt, VX stretched out, making it look and sound so easy, Winston Clifford shining with a controlled, brief solo. Introducing Full House the irony wasn't lost on Price that they were playing to anything but a full house in the Boileroom. Ah, but we were a virtual house! Price reckoned the album of the same name was his favourite Wes Montgomery recording and with Johnny Griffin, correction, Vasilis Xenopoulos, alongside, it cooked, big time! So much so, at its conclusion VX laughed, saying they should play something a little slower to enable him to catch his breath. When Joanna Loved Me from the Paul Desmond-Jim Hall pairing gave him some respite. Stating the theme, VX stood in the wings listening to a most musical bass solo courtesy of Di Lecce. 

Full House notwithstanding, Mr P had been relatively subdued, until now...Ready and Able (Johnny Cuba and George Benson) 'without', said Price, 'a safety net'. And off they went, full pelt. All four tore it up...Yeah! Yeah! More! 

Jimmy Heath and Kenny Burrell's On the Trail, inspired by Ferde Grofé's early thirties' Grand Canyon Suite, concluded the live stream, VX blowing tremendous tenor to an empty room but a Wes Montgomery virtual full house. Superb. Ah! One more, a quick one, a blues, Price's Straight No Bounce, our composer saying it was a hybrid of Straight No Chaser and Billie's Bounce. Yep, superb. 

A Q & A followed. Several questions from the online audience...Favourite musicians? How was it in lockdown? How long did you/do you practice? Nigel Price summed it up saying: You've just got to put the hours in. Xenopoulos revealed he had doubts about the future for musicians, the possibility/prospect of retraining. Forget that, Vasilis, when you get back out on the road there will be an audience. You can bet on it.  

XPD is one of the great working units and as and when these guys hit the road again - and they will! - be sure to catch them. This is what live music is all about, no messing, honest, heart and soul stuff. 

This evening's concert was presented by Guildford Jazz in association with Berkhampstead Jazz, Colchester Arts Centre Jazz Club, Chichester Jazz Club, Fleet Jazz Club and Scarborough Jazz. 
Russell

Set list: LyrestoThe Right TimeIf Ever I Will YouFull HouseWhen Joanna Loved MeReady and Able; On the TrailStraight No Bounce.  

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