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Bebop Spoken There

Kelly Sill: "Just because everyone is playing through the changes in the same time doesn't mean they're actually playing together" - (JazzTimes March/April 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

15260 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 279 of them this year alone and, so far, 92 this month (March 29).

From This Moment On ...

April

Sun 02: Smokin' Spitfires @ The Cluny. 12:45pm.
Sun 02: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 3:00pm.

Mon 03: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.

Tue 04: Paul Skerritt @ The Rabbit Hole, Hallgarth St., Durham DH1 3AT. 7:00pm. Paul Skerritt's (solo) weekly residency.
Tue 04: Jam session @ Black Swan, Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. House trio: Bradley Johnston (guitar); Paul Grainger (double bass); Abbie Finn (drums).

Wed 05: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 05: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 05: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:00pm.
Wed 05: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thu 06: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 06: Thursday Night Prayer Meeting @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Donations. Feat. John Pope, Marie Shreer, John Garner.
Thu 06: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibtion Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Ragtime piano. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.
Thu 06: Darlington Big Band @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Note earlier start time.

Fri 07: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 07: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.
Fri 07: Gaz Hughes Trio @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm.
Fri 07: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Traveller's Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 07: Finntet + Zoë Gilby & Andy Champion @ Bobik's, Punch Bowl, Newcastle. 8:00pm. JNE.
Fri 07: TBA @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig. Blind Pig Blues Club.

Sat 08: Me Lost Me + Ceitidh Mac + Heather Ferrier @ Bobik's, Punch Bowl, Newcastle. 7:30pm. JNE.
Sat 08: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington Covered Market, Darlington DL1 5PN. 6:00pm. New venue, live jazz!
Sat 08: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00. RESCHEDULED from last week (Sat 01).
Sat 08: Robbie Reay @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Acoustic blues. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.
Sat 08: Anth Purdy @ Mr Tighe's, Bebside, Northumberland. 8:30pm.

Sunday, October 03, 2021

Jamie Cullum @ Sage Gateshead - Oct. 2

(Photo courtesy George Milburn)
Jamie Cullum (piano, vocals); Rory Simmons (trumpet) + Tom Richards (tenor sax, baritone sax, clarinet, keys, perc.); Tom Varall (guitar); Loz Garratt (bass, bass guitar); Brad Webb (drums); Marc Henderson & Aisha Stewart (dancers, backing vocals).

My apologies for not getting all of the names straight away but when you're on your feet clapping, whooping and hollering and in the dark, it's impossible to make legible notes but, at a time like this, who keeps score? However, I did manage eventually so now amended. 

The concert, held over from the cancelled 2020 jazz festival, was three levels full - I guess nobody cashed in their tickets after the cancellation and why would they? This was the blast to end all blasts!

A carefully choreographed mix of jazz, soul and rock 'n' roll whipped the audience into a frenzy. Jamie, I can't believe he's now 42, still looks like the cherub of 20 plus years ago - at least he did from row R.

The audience were his from the opening bars. He's got charisma to spare and he knows how to put it about.

However, his jazz roots are never far away even when the heat is on and, amidst all the crowd pleasing stuff, he slotted in I Get a Kick Out of You. Not his recorded version but an arrangement that had the two horns and rhythm blowing a bop intro. They also took extended solos with Simmons' muted solo taking the gold but the tenor man had his day in the sun later - on clarinet.

What a Difference a Day Made brought claps of recognition from the crowd and Jamie's solo piano/vocal version of You Can't Hide Away From Love was a pin drop moment or maybe I should say a switch  your off phone moment.

And hey! What about the backing vocalists cum dancers? Stupendous movers with Henderson performing some near Olympic gymnastic moves!
(Photo courtesy George Milburn)

As the evening drew towards a climax our tenor man, Tom Richards, emerged brandishing a clarinet and you don't see many of those at gigs of this nature - this could be a game-changer. Finest clarinet solo I've heard in many a long year. By this time we were dancing in the aisles as was Jamie before he opted to continue atop of the Steinway (which is a fine way...).

There was obviously an encore hovering but, with a bus to catch, I reluctantly left. This was one special night. Oh, and by the way, Jamie Cullum plays mighty fine piano ...
.
Sam Wills (keys, vocals); Ed Blakely (guitar, bass guitar).

(Photo courtesy George Milburn)
Earlier Sam Wills prepared the scene with a short set that held the crowd. Normally when there's a name act the ones in the posh seats head back to the bar after the first number - I didn't see anyone leaving I guess Sam could be on his way. Lance

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