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Bebop Spoken There

Art Blakey: "You [Bobby Watson] don't want to play too long, because you don't know they're clapping because they're glad you finished!" - (JazzTimes, Nov. 2019)..

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

15848 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 855 of them this year alone and, so far, 53 this month (Sept. 18).

From This Moment On ...

September

Sun 24: Musicians Unlimited @ Park Inn, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.

Mon 25: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Mon 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 7:00pm.

Tue 26: Paul Skerritt @ The Rabbit Hole, Hallgarth St., Durham DH1 3AT. 7:00pm. Paul Skerritt's (solo) weekly residency.

Wed 27: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 27: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 27: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thu 28: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 28: Alice Grace Quartet @ King's Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 28: Gateshead Jazz Appreciation Society @ Gateshead Central Library, Gateshead. 2:30pm. All welcome.
Thu 28: Faye MacCalman + Snape/Sankey @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Thu 28: Zoe Rahman @ Jesmond United Reformed Church, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:30pm. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Thu 28: '58 Jazz Collective @ Hops & Cheese, Hartlepool. 7:30pm.
Thu 28: Speakeasy @ Queen's Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm. £15.00. A Southpaw Dance Company presentation. Dance, audio-visuals, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, swing dancers etc.
Thu 28: Mick Cantwell Band @ Harbour View, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Ace blues band.
Thu 28: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Fri 29: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 29: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 29: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.

Sat 30: John Pope Quintet + Late Girl + Shapeshifters @ Bobik's, Jesmond, Newcastle.
Sat 30: Papa G's Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.

Sunday, October 03, 2021

Newcastle Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music: Jam Session @ The Black Swan - Oct. 3

(Pics by Russell/collage by Lance)
Paul Grainger, John Pope (bass); Harry Keeble, Graham Easthope (tenor sax); Abbie Finn, Johnny Hunter (drums); Jacob Barker (guitar); Ferg Kilsby (trumpet); Thomas Egglestone (trombone); Elliot Hayes-Clare (bass guitar).

After Zoe Rahman I needed sustenance and a chance to reflect upon her stunning performance. A pork pie and a pint in the nearby Split Chimp geared me up for the jam session at the Newcastle Arts Centre.

Earlier, the Abbie Finn Trio had played a set that has been reviewed by Russell and I looked forward to what, hopefully, will be a precursor to the return of the popular Tuesday night jams scheduled to re-start on Oct. 26.

As happens every year, there are comings and goings and, invariably, surprises.

Students graduate and go one to be 'something in the city' - maybe even Prime Minister although, as of yet, on this side of the Atlantic we've had no Bill Clintons - at least not musically speaking - in the top job. Fortunately, as one lot departs another arrives and we had three fresh faces from Newcastle Uni.

Foremost among these was Jacob Barker who, in the absence of a keyboard provided the harmonic foundation throughout. Thrown in at the deep end, as the saying goes, he did the biz as well as soloing effectively on tunes he wasn't always familiar with.

Harry Keeble who had earlier blitzed the room with Abbie's trio was in scintillating form. Someone, somewhere, I'm told, compared Harry to the young Tubby Hayes. His waistline has a bit to go but his playing is getting closer.

John Pope and Johnny Hunter - two of the festival's names - sat in. Pope briefly, Hunter for most of the set.

Graham Easthope, a veteran of the pre-pandemic jams, turned up  and, after a shaky start on A Night in Tunisia, soon got into his stride and played some good stuff. 

Ferg Kilsby may have been the youngest on stage but all that goes out the window when he plays. We've watched with interest his ever increasing prowess and this afternoon may be the best yet and, trust me, there will be more - much more to come.

Thomas Egglestone was thrown in at the deep end and didn't drown. When the word gets around that there is another trombonist on the scene his phone will never stop ringing!

Bass guitarist Hayes-Clare only had one bite of the cherry but, hopefully, when the regular jams are up and running he will be in there - bassists are always at a premium. Ask Paul Grainger who, as he did today, plays bass, organises the jams,  emcees and rarely gets a break!

A lovely afternoon - Lance.

All the Things You Are; A Night in Tunisia; Song For my Father; Walkin'; There Will Never be Another You; Days of Wine and Roses; Billie's Bounce; Recorder Me; Cherokee; 'Round Midnight; Donna Lee; Strasbourg/Saint-Denis.

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