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Bebop Spoken There

Art Blakey: "You [Bobby Watson] don't want to play too long, because you don't know they're clapping because they're glad you finished!" - (JazzTimes, Nov. 2019)..

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

15848 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 855 of them this year alone and, so far, 53 this month (Sept. 18).

From This Moment On ...

September

Thu 21: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 21: La Malbec Orchestra @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Thu 21: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Ragtime piano. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.
Thu 21: Linsday Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Harbour View, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 21: Ray Stubbs R & B All Stars @ The Schooner, Gateshead. 8:30pm. Free.
Thu 21: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Fri 22: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 22: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 22: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.
Fri 22: Brief Encounter @ Bardon Mill Village Hall, Northumberland. 7:00pm. Tickets: £10.00. adv from 07885 303166; £12.00. on the door. Chris & Veronica Perrin improvising to a screening of the 1929 'Jazz Age' silent film Piccadilly (Dir. Ewald André Dupont).
Fri 22: Paul Edis & Graeme Wilson + Three Tsuru Origami @ Jesmond United Reformed Church, Newcastle. 7:30pm. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Fri 22: Crooners @ Tyne Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm.
Fri 22: Abbie Finn's Finntet @ Traveller's Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.

Sat 23: Tyne Valley Big Band @ Tanfield Railway, Gateshead. 2:00-4:00pm. Free. A '1940s Weekend' event.
Sat 23: Jason Isaacs @ Stack, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free.
Sat 23: Andrew Porritt & Keith Barrett @ Cullercoats Watch House, Front St., Cullercoats NE30 4QB. 7:00pm.
Sat 23: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig. Country blues.

Sun 24: Musicians Unlimited @ Park Inn, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.

Mon 25: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Mon 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 7:00pm.

Tue 26: Paul Skerritt @ The Rabbit Hole, Hallgarth St., Durham DH1 3AT. 7:00pm. Paul Skerritt's (solo) weekly residency.

Wed 27: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 27: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 27: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Monday, July 12, 2021

Album review: The Mark Masters Ensemble - Masters & Baron Meet Blanton & Webster

It takes a brave man to offer fresh interpretations of Ellington's music and to do it without falling short. Fortunately, Masters manages to pull it off with neither insult nor injury to the original recordings which were by the 1940-42 band. That band was often referred to as the Blanton-Webster Band with reference to key players Jimmy Blanton, who revolutionised bass playing, and Ben Webster, one of the all-time greats of the tenor saxophone.

Kirsten Edkins and Jerry Pinter share Webster's solos with Bruce Lett occupying the Blanton berth. However, there's more - much more.

One of the key members of that particular Ellington band (justifiably known as Duke Ellington and his Famous Orchestra) was trombonist Joe Nanton or "Tricky Sam" who, arguably, could be said to have invented the growl/plunger style of trombone playing. Here, Art Baron, who himself played in the very last Ellington band, takes on the role as if to the manor born.

On trumpet, Tim Hagans is more Clark Terry than Ray Nance and drummer Ferber swings like Sam Woodyard rather than the more exotic Sonny Greer.

Whilst most of the pieces are identifiable to those familiar with the originals a notable exception is Duke's Place, better known as C Jam Blues where it is only as the band hits the out chorus that we get a clue as to the tune. This in no way diminishes it as, apart from solos by Schroeder, Woodley and Lett there's some exciting trumpet exchanges between Stout and Hagans.

Whether you're a devout Ellingtonian or just a mere fan it's an album well worth checking out. Lance.

Available now on Capri Records (74166). Sample.

All Too Soon; Duke's Place; I Got it Bad; A Flower is a Lovesome Thing; What am I Here For?; Jack the Bear; Perdido; Passion flower; Take the 'A' Train; Ko-Ko; Introduction to In a Mellotone; In a Mellotone.

Scott Englebright, Les Lovitt, Ron Stout, Tim Hagans (trumpet); Les Benedict, Dave Woodley, Art Baron (trombone); Kirsten Edkins, Jerry Pinter (tenor/soprano saxes); Danny House (alto sax/clarinet); Adam Schroeder (baritone sax); Bruce Lett (bass); Mark Ferber (drums); Mark Masters (arranger).

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