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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.

Monday, November 08, 2021

Album review: Alvin Queen Trio - Night Train to Copenhagen

Calle Brickman (piano); Tobias Dall Mikkelsen (bass); Alvin Queen (drums).

A Swedish pianist, a Danish bassist and a Swiss, American born, drummer met up in a recording  studio in Elsinore in March this year and boy am I pleased that they did!

Queen was the drummer with Oscar Peterson's last trio so it probably isn't surprising that he decided to record a couple of tribute albums to the great pianist. What is surprising is that it took him so long (Peterson died in 2007). Perhaps he waited until he found the right musicians for the sessions. If that was the case then it was certainly worth the wait.

The first album: O.P. - A Tribute to Oscar Peterson was also recorded in Denmark and had Zier Romme Larsen on piano and Ida Hvid on bass. This was in 2018.

I've only heard snatches of that first album but, good as they are, Night Train to Copenhagen has the edge - not least because of the material which is drawn from two of Oscar's most well known albums, Night Train and We Get Requests.

Back in the day, Sweden was the undisputed capital of European jazz with musicians such as Lars Gullin, Bengt Hallberg and Arne Domnérus, to mention but three, recording with various Americans who were passing through. In Calle Brickman we have a pianist who is up there with them - maybe beyond. Certainly the young man puts his own stamp on the choice selection of standards, modern jazz classics, a Danish folk song and an original by producer Niels Lan Doky.

Likewise, Denmark's place in the jazz pantheon has also always been at the forefront. Many American musicians made there home there and one of the world's great bass players, the late NHOP was a one time member of the Peterson Trio. With Tobias Lan Mikkelson on bass, his legacy is in good hands.

Alvin Queen, not only holds it all together but ensures that it swings. This isn't mere lip service but something that takes Peterson's work - I won't say to a greater level as no one could do that - to a glimpse of where it might have been had he still been with us.

One thing is sure, Oscar Peterson would have been so proud of what Alvin and his two young sidemen have done with his music. Lance.


Available Nov. 19 on Stunt Records.

Have You Met Miss Jones?;Bags Groove; I Got it Bad (and That Ain't Good); Farewell Song; Quiet Nights; Days of Wine and Roses; Goodbye JD; Tranquility in the Woods; D & E; Georgia on my Mind; Night Train; C Jam Blues; People; Moten Swing; Some Other Time.

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