Total Pageviews

Bebop Spoken There

Delfeayo Marsalis: "Slide Hampton once told me that it's not always the person that is playing the highest or playing the fastest that's making the greatest impact." - (DownBeat March 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

15229 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 248 of them this year alone and, so far, 61 this month (March 20).

From This Moment On ...

March

Tue 21: Paul Skerritt @ The Rabbit Hole, Hallgarth St., Durham DH1 3AT. 7:00pm. Paul Skerritt's (solo) weekly residency.
Tue 21: Jam session @ Black Swan, Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. House trio: Jacob Egglestone (guitar); Jamie Watkins (bass guitar); Bailey Rudd (drums).

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Traveller's Rest, Cockerton. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public). Note change of venue - this week only.
Wed 22: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:00pm.
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thu 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 4:00-6:00pm. Free.
Thu 23: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Bar Loco, Newcasatle. From 6:30pm 'til late. Free. Newcastle University Jazz Orchestra jam session. All welcome (students & non-students).
Thu 23: Kerrin Tatman + John Garner & John Pope @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Thu 23: Sunna Gunnlaugs & Julia Hülsmann @ Sage Gateshead. 8:00pm. A two-piano gig. A Sage Gateshead-JNE promotion.
Thu 23: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Ragtime piano.
Thu 23: Sleep Suppressor @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £10.00., £8.00. adv. Upstairs.
Thu 23: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.
Fri 24: FILM: Mo' Better Blues @ Forum Cinema, Hexham. 7:00pm.
Fri 24: Ian Millar & Dominic Spencer @ Scarth Hall, Staindrop, Co. Durham. 8:00pm. £10.00.
Fri 24: Archipelago + Bulbils @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.

Sat 25: Vermont Big Band @ Walker Community Centre, Walker, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Fundraiser for Benfield Juniours Football Club. Hot food available, BYOB.
Sat 25: John Logan & Friends @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Rat Pack, Motown etc. 8:00pm. Free (donations).

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.
Sun 26: Outlines @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. JNE promotion (upstairs).

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

Saturday, August 07, 2021

Album review: Stan Martin Quartet Live @ the Airport Jazz Club (1988)

Stan Martin (clarinet, tenor sax); Norman Rudd (piano); Alan Rudd (bass); Bob Arkley (drums).

This one came out of left field and is an absolute historical gem. Recorded live over a number of sessions at the Airport Social Club, Newcastle in 1988, it serves as a timely reminder of two of the north east's finest mainstream players both of whom are sadly no longer with us.

Stan Martin and Norman Rudd formed a musical affinity way back in the day when they were members of the legendary Panama Jazzmen. An affinity that remained very much in evidence when these numbers were recorded maybe 30/40 years later.

Martin, unlike most local clarinetists back then, didn't seek to emulate either Johnny Dodds or, at the other extreme, Buddy DeFranco but opted instead for the husky tones of Pee Wee Russell or Archie Semple. Likewise, on tenor his role  model was most likely Ben Webster - he had the same growly sound albeit with not quite as full a tone although close.

Rudd (Norman) came from the same era - Fats Waller, Joe Sullivan, Teddy Wilson, Dill Jones - in Harlem he'd have been an in-demand regular at neighbourhood rent parties. His solo feature on Here's That Rainy Day is just about as good as it gets.

Rudd (Alan) and Bob Arkley are employed mainly in a supportive role which in no way lessens their importance. The rhythm flows unobtrusively giving the soloists the perfect cushion.

You want to have some fun? subject a jazz friend to a blindfold test and slip one of these tracks in. I guarantee that, after his failure to guess correctly, his next question will be: "How can I get hold of a copy?"

Well, Alan Rudd, who took advantage of the enforced lockdown to put this compilation together, tells me that once Classic Swing get playing live again he will have copies available at gigs or direct from: ar.music@virginmedia.com

It's a landmark in north east jazz history and, amazingly well recorded. Lance

1 comment :

Laurie Brown (on F/b) said...

Great quartet used to go often. Stan also came and sat in with us at The Porthole. Anyone remember when on piano he only liked playing the black notes?!

Blog Archive