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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.

Saturday, September 04, 2021

To clap or not to clap ...

 ... That is the question or, to be more precise, do we applaud solos or do we make like the squares (pardon the jargon but I've just been looking through some early editions of DownBeat) who think of a cat as a feline friend (or otherwise) and wait until the final bar as they would do if they'd survived a Wagnerian opus?

My mother, God rest her soul, was horrified when she heard me playing a recording from a live concert and the audience applauding after a solo - "How uncouth" she said, although I did have to remind her that, after a crowd pleasing rendition of an aria in one of her beloved Verdi's operas, they would often reprise the aria.

There are no reprises in jazz - at least not until the next gig in a different venue - when the solo could be better or worse or the same and, maybe receive a better or worse or the same response.

Going back in time, the fans applauded if they felt the solo was worthy of it. Invariably the ones who got the most acclaim were drummers, honking sax players and high note trumpet men. They knew how to work a room and the audience responded.

Also, in the better places the applause came from more subtle, more lyrical solos. However, as applause became seemingly obligatory the bands themselves began to demand it in case it wasn't spontaneously forthcoming.

I recall reading in an old Jazz Journal of Gerry Mulligan's then partner, Judy Holliday, standing at the side of the stage exhorting the crowd to applaud.

The Alex Welsh Band also had an annoying habit of when, after a solo, the leader would shout out to the crowd - "Make him happy" irrespective of how unhappy the soloist had made the audience feel. In fairness, of course, it was a rare occasion when any of the band's soloists did make anyone unhappy!

However, the point I'm making is that, if the solo is good enough, the crowd will respond. In fact it's an insult to both the player and to the listener.  If the player's solo is good enough then he know's what it's worth. If the listeners have to be geed-up then it's a reflection on them and maybe they're at the wrong gig.

Just thinkin'... Lance 

2 comments :

Hugh said...

I do sometimes wonder whether to clap if there are a succession of short solos by different musicians. There is the risk, perhaps, of the applause for one solo masking the audience's appreciation of the following solo.

Anonymous said...

Applause is the sweetest sound for an artist so the more the merrier.

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