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Bebop Spoken There

Branford Marsalis: "As ignorance often forces us to do, you make a generalisation about a musician based on one specific record or one moment in time." - (Jazzwise June 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

15478 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 499 of them this year alone and, so far, 120 this month (May 27).

From This Moment On ...

May 2023

Wed 31: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 31: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 31: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:00pm.
Wed 31: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

June
Thu 01: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 01: Thursday Night Prayer Meeting @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Donations.
Thu 01: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Ragtime piano. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.
Thu 01: Jake Leg Jug Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Thu 01: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Fri 02: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 02: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 02: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.
Fri 02: Joseph Carville Trio @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm.
Fri 02: Claire Martin & Her Trio @ The Witham, Barnard Castle. 7:30pm. £25.00., £20.00. Feat. Jim Mullen, Alex Garnett & Jeremy Brown.
Fri 02: Guy Davis + Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. Doors 7:30pm. Blues double bill.
Fri 02: Anders Ingram @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Blind Pig Blues Club. Country blues. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.

Sat 03: Newcastle Record Fair @ Northumbria University, Newcastle NE8 8SB. 10:00am-3:00pm. Admission: £2.00.
Sat 03: Pedigree Jazz Band @ St Augustine's Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm.
Sat 03: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. Tutor: Sue Ferris. £25.00. Enrol at: www.jazz.coop.
Sat 03: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 6:00pm. Free.
Sat 03: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 03: Papa G's Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.

Sun 04: Smokin' Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm.
Sun 04: Central Bar Quintet @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00-4:00pm. £5.00. The Central Bar Quintet plays Sonny Rollins' Saxophone Colossus. Featuring Lewis Watson.
Sun 04: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 3:00pm.
Sun 04: Struggle Buggy + Michael Littlefield @ Tyne Bar, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Acoustic blues.
Sun 04: Swinging at the Cotton Club: Harry Strutters' Hot Rhythm Orchestra @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.
Sun 04: Richard Jones Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 05: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.

Tue 06: Paul Skerritt @ The Rabbit Hole, Hallgarth St., Durham DH1 3AT. 7:00pm. Paul Skerritt's (solo) weekly residency.
Tue 06: Jam session @ Black Swan, Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. House trio: Stu Collingwood (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Sid White (drums).

Sunday, August 08, 2021

Rendezvous Jazz remembering Tom Hall @ The Red Lion, Earsdon - August 7

Maureen Hall (vocals); Gavin Lee (clarinet, soprano sax); Gordon Solomon (trombone); Malcolm Armstrong (piano); Tom Darbyshire (double bass); George Davidson (drums, vocals) + John Broddle (vocals) 

It had been a while, the best part of eighteen months. Maureen Hall confessed to being a little nervous. To add to any anxiety, two of the band almost didn't make it. The A19 closed to traffic, Tom Darbyshire and Gavin Lee were obliged to take the scenic route, arriving in Earsdon some twenty minutes after the advertised eight o'clock start. 

Maureen dedicated the evening to her husband Tom who sadly died a little over one year ago. It was to be an evening of memories and stories of Tom and his mischievous sense of humour. On an occasion such as this Maureen couldn't have wished for a better supporting cast. To her left sat Gavin Lee (clarinet, soprano sax), to her right, Gordon Solomon (trombone). Well, with these guys on board Maureen was one-nil up before the downbeat! The Rendezvous Jazz rhythm section - pianist Malcolm Armstrong, depping bassist Tom Darbyshire and drummer George Davidson - laid down a secure foundation from the off. 

The boys opened up with Alabama Jubilee. It was as if they'd never been away. Everywhere You Go, Maureen's first vocal of the evening, dispatched any lingering nerves. A puff of the cheeks suggested Maureen was pleased/relieved that the show was well and truly back on the road. The applause from the band's regular supporters must have been like a shot in the arm! 

Apex Blues took it down with Gavin Lee in tremendous form. Perhaps our man from County Durham spent his many lockdown days in the shed: assured, fluent, inventive and more. Doctor Jazz closed an enjoyable first set. You've heard the tune a million times, but no matter, it's a winner every time. 

I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate ventured Maureen, an instrumental take on Bobby Shafto more or less fell apart at its end, but everyone laughed it off with the audience happily singing along. Maureen took a breather as the boys worked out which key they should be in on Canal Street Blues. They got there in the end! Friend of Rendezvous Jazz, Mr John Broddle joined the band to sing a couple of numbers -  Roses of Picardy and Sweet Lorraine. It's always a pleasure to listen to JB's casually swinging vocals. 

Maureen returned to conclude the evening's entertainment with the spiritual Light from Your Lighthouse. It had been an entertaining evening. Maureen wanted the occasion here at the Red Lion to be one filled with happy memories of Tom - at home, at work, on the cricket field - and that's exactly how it turned out.  

Next month's session is on Saturday 4th September, eight o'clock start, £3 on the door. And before then, this Friday (August 13), Maureen and the boys will be resuming their weekly lunchtime session at the Monkseaton Arms (1:00pm) with special guest, pianist Ian Wynne! 
Russell   
  

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