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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.

Sunday, December 05, 2021

Clark Tracey Quartet play Stan Tracey's "A Child's Christmas in Wales" & "Under Milk Wood" @ The Globe, Newcastle - Dec. 4

(© Ken Drew)
Clark Tracey (drums); Simon Allen (alto/tenor sax); Bruce Boardman (piano); James Owston (bass); Ben Tracey (narrator)

There may have been a better session at The Globe but I can't remember when. This JNE/Jazz Co-op was the absolute biz.

The music on its own, perfectly played. The words impeccably read. They could have stood alone and few would have complained. Together it was an unbeatable combination.

The two suites, both composed and arranged by Stan Tracey, driven along by his son on drums and narrated by his grandson added warmth to a cold, wet and windy night.

A Child's Christmas in Wales was new to me and although Under Milk Wood is still one of the all-time best-selling British jazz albums it had been a long time since I'd heard it so, in a sense this was both a voyage of discovery and rediscovery.

Ben Tracey's narration was word perfect portraying life as it was in "The Valleys" back then when life was simpler - or was it? I think anyone who lived in a small town or village could relate to the imagery portrayed by the greatest of the poets named Dylan.

As for the music it was simply out of this world. Allen, who blew alto on A Child's Christmas and tenor on Under Milk Wood , was the ideal saxist to have out front. Stating the themes with authority and soloing as if there was no tomorrow - they don't come any better - certainly not in Newcastle on a Saturday night or indeed anywhere on any night! James Owston depping for the advertised Andy Cleyndert was another star in an evening that was producing a minor galaxy of them.

Boardman was a new name to me but he'd successfully incorporated the Monkish, Dukish influences that typified so much of Stan Tracey's playing into his own to make the authenticity of the occasion almost complete. 

Almost!

To round it off and make absolute completion Clark Tracey drove the band on displaying his own formidable technique without in any way losing the plot. His father would have been proud of him - we all were - come back soon. Lance

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