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Bebop Spoken There

Ambrose Akinmusire: “ I am certainly always aware of what the masses are doing. And when I see too many people going one way, I'm going another way - even when I don't know what's over that way". DownBeat, March, 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

Tue 19: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Tim Johnston.

Wed 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 20: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 20: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 21: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 21: Castillo Neuvo Trio + Conor Emery & His ‘Bones Band @ The Grove, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £10.00. (£7.00. student).
Thu 21: Remi Banklyn + Chris Corcoran Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.50. Chicago blues. An International Guitar Foundation promotion.
Thu 21: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Ragtime piano.
Thu 21: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 22: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 22: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 22: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 22: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 22: Nauta + Remy CB + Last Orders @ Hoochie Coochie, Newcastle. 8:30pm (7:30pm doors). Free.
Fri 22: Vasilis Xenopoulos-Paul Edis Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £15.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 22: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 23: Jambone @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Free (ticketed). End of term performance in the Northern Rock Foundation Hall.
Sat 23: Milne-Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 23: Red Kites Jazz @ Rowlands Gill Community Centre NE39 1JB. 7:00pm. Tickets: £12.00. (gibsidecommunityfarm@gmail.com). A ‘Build a Barn’ fundraiser. BYOB, tea/coffee available.
Sat 23: New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00. + bf (book in person at venue - no booking fee!). Featuring pianist Martin Litton.
Sat 23: Pete Tanton’s Cuba Libre @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 24: Musicians Unlimited @ Park Inn, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 24: Luis Verde @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. Verde (alto sax); Joe Steels (guitar); John Pope (double bass); John Hirst (drums). Alto sax brilliance!
Sun 24: Elsie Franklin @ The Globe, Newcastle. 3:00pm. £10.00. Country blues. An International Guitar Foundation promotion.
Sun 24: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay Metro Station. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: Las Vegas Live with the Rat Pack @ The Forum, Billingham.
Sun 24: Ian Millar & Dominic Spencer @ Otterburn Memorial Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Sun 24: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Note start time - 7:00pm.
Sun 24: Bold Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 25: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

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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