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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

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.
Fri 29: True Colours @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 9:00pm. Blues, jazz & swing.

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.

Thu 04: FILM: Soul @ Forum Cinema, Hexham. 2:00pm. Jazz-themed film animation.
Thu 04: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 04: Funky Drummer @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 04: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 04: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Tuesday, September 28, 2021

Pope @ Ye Olde Cross, Ryton - Sept. 24

(However, after the session in Holy Cross Church,  the day’s musical festivities were not over, but continued nearby in Ye Olde Cross pub, with the Newcastle Improvisers Orchestra - editor)

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The theory behind this grouping, the Newcastle Improvisers Orchestra, at least in its original conception as it was once explained to me, is that anyone can do it – we all have improvisational musical potential. I agree to an extent, but it has to be said that, in practice, this sort of session does tend to attract the more technically capable participant.

That applies in spades to the facilitator, bassist John Pope, a North-Easterner, but with a much wider reputation. Pope is a versatile musician, with a particular penchant for improv. Over the last decade or so, I’ve seen him with outfits as diverse as Wilbur’s Fate, ALT, Archipelago, singer Lindsay Hannon’s band, a trio with reed player Chris Biscoe and another with Dutch trombonist Walter Wierbos. His own quintet has been known to range in repertoire from Ornette Coleman to Tom Waits.

 

There was lots of bass in evidence this afternoon – Pope’s double bass plus two bass guitars. The overall instrumentation also took in trumpet/ flugelhorn, keyboards, electronics, alto sax, vocals and percussion. Musically, it was consistently interesting (and way out of my playing league, although I did use my pen to tap a bit on my notebook).

 

As if to emphasise the point, part-way in, Paul Taylor showed up and contributed the standard of piano playing you would expect from somebody very good indeed. A Pope bass undertow with a Taylor lead piano was later one of the highlights of an excellent final session.

 

Having said all that, this sort of occasion certainly has its messages for the mere bystander. In particular, the insights into the improviser’s art, provided by Pope’s tutorial moments (and the feedback he got from the other musicians) were fascinating. When and how to listen, when to assert yourself and when not to, when to lead and when to follow and when to do neither. Lessons for life as well as music. Geoff Fimister

2 comments :

Andy Wood said...

As a workshop observer I was enthralled - the level of musicianship was varied and the interaction was a joy to witness. Credit to John Pope who led the session.

James Watts said...

Loads of interesting and useful stuff was taken away from this one

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