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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

Thu 28: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 28: Gateshead Jazz Appreciation Society @ Gateshead Central Library, Gateshead. 2:30pm.
Thu 28: Richard Herdman Quartet @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 28: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Guests: Josh Bentham (alto sax); Alan Marshall (tenor sax); Neil Brodie (trumpet); Adrian Beadnell (bass); Graham Thompson (keys); Steve Hunter (drums).

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.

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.

Monday, August 30, 2021

Jazz on a Summer's Day @ Everyman Cinema, Newcastle - August 30

(Pic by Russell)
I first saw Jazz on a Summer's Day in 1959. I watched it in Newcastle, although I can't remember the cinema. I watched it again the following day in Sunderland and, once more, the name of the cinema escapes me. However, the film remained in my memory long after The Glenn Miller Story was  forgotten.

Since then I've watched JOASD on VHS, DVD and, after the 21st century came upon us, various clips on YouTube.

But, they all pale into insignificance compared to this latest enhanced version. This was almost like seeing your favourite movie live. The big screen, the sound system, you weren't sitting in a cinema but you were out there in Rhode Island falling in love with Anita O'Day, wishing you could play like Sonny Stitt maybe chatting up one of the girls in the audience with all that, hopefully, kiss proof lipstick.

Jazz on a Summer's Day is as iconic a film in jazz terms as Woodstock or Summer of Soul (which I have yet to see) were/are.

Seeing so many legends on stage in the most famous jazz festival of them all brought goosebumps and I frequently had to restrain myself from applauding the solos - that's how real it all came across.

Of course it wasn't just the music. If it had been filmed purely as a selection of concerts it would still have been an essential for your jazz video shelf  but maybe not one you would go back to too often. But, combine the music with Bert Stern's stunning photography and you get an artform that transcends music, photography, cinematography for something that incorporates all of those contributing factors. 

I found it interesting to see from the close ups how Sonny Stitt practically swallows the mouthpiece whereas Jimmy Giuffre barely touches it - just enough to get a sound. Their contrasting tones reflected by the different embouchures.

Away from the bandstand, the shots of the audience - everyone smoked - the kids running around (maybe one of them was a future star at Newport) the America's Cup yacht race and the hilarious shots of Eli's Chosen Six blowing a boisterous brand of Dixieland in and around the site - at onetime Roswell Rudd was with the band although I don't know if he made this gig.

Louis and Teagarden, Gerry Mulligan, Dinah Washington, Mahalia. Chuck Berry, Big Maybelle (and dig that Eddie Barefield clarinet solo!), Monk, Chico Hamilton, Buck Clayton... If seeing these guys (and gals) didn't get your pulse racing then maybe you should try rockabilly or Buddy Rich's allergy.

A couple of years earlier, Ellington stole the show. One of the numbers the band played that day was Blues to be There. That's how I felt today.

Check out your local Everyman Cinema. Lance

2 comments :

Pamela Young (on F/b) said...

Absolutely wonderful film Anita O’Day was just perfection.

Nickey Garnier (on F/b) said...

A fabulous piece of Jazz history in this absolute gem of a film. A delight to see.

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