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Bebop Spoken There

Abbie Finn: "Even though there's a lot of great work being done to promote women in jazz, I still come up against some attitudes! I pulled up at a recording session with my drums in the car and the studio owner said, 'I'm sorry, this space is reserved for the drummer!'" - (Jazzwise April 2023).

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

15245 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 264 of them this year alone and, so far, 77 this month (March 25).

From This Moment On ...

March

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited @ Park Inn, Hartlepool. 1:00pm.
Sun 26: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 3:00pm.
Mar 26: Pop Jazz @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. 'Jazzified' tunes by the likes of Sylvester, Bowie, the Monkees etc., feat. Alan Law, David Gray, Richard Herdman & Jude Murphy.
Sun 26: Outlines @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. JNE promotion (upstairs).

Mon 27: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.

Tue 28: Paul Skerritt @ The Rabbit Hole, Hallgarth St., Durham DH1 3AT. 7:00pm. Paul Skerritt's (solo) weekly residency.
Tue 28: Sanaz Lavasani Trio @ Black Swan, Newcastle Arts Centre. 8:00pm. £12.00 (£10.00. adv).

Wed 29: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 29: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 29: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:00pm.
Wed 29: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thu 30: Gateshead Jazz Appreciation Society @ Gateshead Central Library. 2:30-4:30pm. £2.00. All welcome.
Thu 30: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. Back to 1:00pm stomp off. Free.
Thu 30: '58 Jazz Collective @ Hops & Cheese, Hartlepool. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 30: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Harbour View, Sunderland. 8:00pm.
Thu 30: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Fri 31: Lewis Watson Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Town Hall. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 31: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 31: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 31: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm. CANCELLED! Back next week (April 7).
Fri 31: Jasmine Myra + Waclaw Zimpel @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Fri 31: The Revolutionaires @ The Shack, Boldon Colliery. 7:30pm. £10.00. The Revolutionaires' big band (horn section) line-up.
Fri 31: Andrew McCormack @ Maltings, Berwick. 8:00pm. £20.00.

April
Sat 01: The Big Easy @ St Augustine's Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm.
Sat 01: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. Tutor: Steve Glendinning - In a Minor Key. £25.00. Enrol at: www.jazz.coop.
Sat 01: Hot Club du Nord @ Pleased to Meet You, Bridge St., Morpeth. 8:00pm. £79.00. A charity fundraising event.
Sat 01: Boys of Brass @ Stack, Seaburn. 7:00-9:00pm.
Sat 01: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00. RESCHEDULED to next week (Sat 08).

Sunday, July 18, 2021

Sunday Night @ the Award-Winning Globe: Alter Ego - July 18

(Screenshot by Ken Drew)
Dave Hignett (trumpet, flugel); Keith Robinson (alto/soprano sax); Niall Armstrong (tenor sax, flute); Paul Donnelly (guitar); Tony Abel (bass guitar); Dave Johnson (drums).



Q: What's the difference between a live gig and a livestream?

A: The former is usually too short and the latter is usually too long!

To elaborate. On a live gig you're enjoying it in the, socially distanced, convivial company of like-minded enthusiasts. Come the interval, drinks are ordered, observations are made about the gig, even a chance to chat with the performers or, maybe, strike up a new acquaintance before the band return for an even better set - few bands show all their cards in the opening deal.

Contrast that with sitting at home watching/listening on PC, smartphone or whatever - it's not the same.

The 606 streams the first set live and leaves the second set for those who've actually turned up.

Having said that, tonight's session was everything I've come to expect from the band and, true to form, the game was duly lifted in the second set.

I didn't catch the opening title - I'd taken up Keith's suggestion to make a cup of tea and, as it had been a long time since I'd performed such a task, I eventually gave up and settled for a glass of Sauvignon Blanc.  

Suffice to say that when I returned they'd hit the ground running and the tight arrangements were just that little bit looser and all the better for it.

(Collage by Ken Drew)
Replacing keyboards with guitar in the form of Paul Donnelly was/is a masterstroke. His solos challenge the horns to put up. They did and, although there were fewer stratospheric flights from Dave than is his norm, on the penultimate number he did unleash a solo that maybe rattled a few glasses! Niall and Keith both blew their sox off, Niall, apart from some sound tenor playing also provided much of the material whilst Keith's alto and occasional soprano was never less than lyrical.

Tony Abel, bassist, composer, is one of those guys who pop up infrequently but, when he does, you know you're in the presence of a self-effacing star.

Early days to pass judgement on drummer Johnson but, he held his own with these seasoned sessioneers which is a massive plus for him.

A great band that is even greater when they stretch the elastic... Lance

PS: Re my opening question, both The Globe and the band got it just right tonight.

Little Mama; Red Blues; Zip It; Quasimodo; Mustard Mash; Dog Leap Bounce; Bacon Sandwich;  Wheel Within a Wheel; How Low the Sun; Llangranog Blues; Undertone; Not Moanin'; Diva; Football Blues ...

1 comment :

Keith Robinson (on F/b) said...

Thanks for your support Lance. Your reviews are always interesting and valued

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