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Bebop Spoken There

Kurt Elling: ''There's something to learn from every musician you play with''. (DownBeat, December 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

17586 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 860 of them this year alone and, so far, 5 this month (Dec. 2).

From This Moment On ...

December

Mon 09: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 09: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Wheatsheaf, Benton Sq., Whitley Road, Palmersville NE12 9SU. Tel: 0191 266 8137. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 09: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30-8:30pm. Free.
Mon 09: Trio Grand @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free.
Mon 09: James Birkett Trio @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 10: Customs House Big Band @ All Saints Church Hall, Cleadon. 7:30pm. £6.00. The CHBB’s annual Xmas concert featuring Ruth Lambert. A BYOB gig!

Wed 11: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Cath Stephens’ improvisation workshop @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 4:30-6:00pm. Collaborative group focusing on vocal improvisations.
Wed 11: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 11: The Tannery Jam Session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Second Wednesday in the month.
Wed 11: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 12: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Spanish City, Whitley Bay. 12 noon. £27.00. (inc. three -course meal).
Thu 12: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:00-6:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Thu 12: Stuart Turner @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 12: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesborough. 8:30pm. Free. Guests: Jeremy McMurray (keys); Mark Toomey (alto sax); Donna Hewitt (tenor sax); Kevin Eland (trumpet); Ron Smith (bass).

Fri 13: Dean Stockdale Trio @ Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 13: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Bellavana @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 3:00-5:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Joe Steels Trio @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Customs House Big Band @ Stocksfield Community Association. 7:00pm. Featuring Ruth Lambert.
Fri 13: Paul Edis & Friends: A Jazzy Xmas @ St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook. 7:30pm. £15.00.
Fri 13: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £19.00. + bf. First night of two.
Fri 13: Ransom Van @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 13: Boys of Brass @ Hoochie Coochie, Newcastle. 9:00pm. £10.00.

Sat 14: Jambone @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:15pm. Free but ticketed.
Sat 14: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm.
Sat 14: Red Kites Jazz @ Staiths Café, Autumn Dr., Gateshead. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 14 Lapwing Jazz Trio @ Three Sheets to the Wind, Alnwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 14: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £19.00. + bf. Second night of two.
Sat 14: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 15: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 12 noon. £8.50. Xmas party feat. Musicians Unlimited + Customs House Big Band. SOLD OUT!
Sun 15: Paul Edis & Friends: A Jazzy Xmas @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 2:00pm.
Sun 15: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Mitch Laddie Band @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Superb blues power trio.
Sun 15: Leeway @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 15: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Paul Edis & Friends: A Jazzy Xmas @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.
Sun 15: Alligator Gumbo @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

Sunday, December 19, 2021

Jambone, JB's Cats & the CAT Percussion Ensemble @ Sage Gateshead - Dec 18

Sage Gateshead's Young Musicians' Programme Winter Festival went ahead with strict measures in place. Proof of vaccination at the door, face coverings to be worn at all times, welcome to the never-ending weird year of 2021 and 2022 and...An audience comprising family, friends and supporters, this annual showcase for some of the very best talent in the region would take the form of three sets, each led by experienced tutors, in a wholly supportive environment.

Jambone, directed by Paul Edis and James Brady, featured a twelve piece ensemble (two or three chairs were occupied by experienced musicians there to augment the youthful sections) playing four compositions. Outgoing director Paul Ediswelcomed one and all to Sage Two, the band kicking off with Abdullah Ibrahim's Soweto. Fine playing all round. The tutors each contributed one composition: Edis' Of Mice and Men (its composer expressing his admiration for the young musicians' efforts in successfully negotiating the number's convoluted form). Brady's four-part suite Four Scenes on L'Homme Arme demanded concentrated minds, the composer's animated conducting guiding his young charges through each section. Mary Lou Williams' Roll 'Em closed Jambone's programme, swinging it as if it were circa 1939!     
Jambone: Paul Edis (MD, reeds); James Brady (MD, trumpet, percussion); Ferg Kilsby (trumpet); Joseph Meston (trumpet);James Goldberg (trumpet); Adam Johnston (reeds); George Ivanov (guitar); Izaac Wilson (piano); Jack ? (bass guitar); Nathan Hulme (drums)

Earlier, JB's Cats (that's James Birkett's group of talented early teenage years musicians) presented a guitar-centric set which, James Birkett informed the audience, being a guitarist himself, suited him just fine! Dr Birkett's one-time protégé Bradley Johnston assisted his one-time mentor in coaxing a marvellous performance from some of Sage Gateshead's stars of the future. 

Guitarist Joe Ducker's solo performance of Tommy Emmanuel's Gameshow Rag couldn't have been more impressive. Bradley Johnston sat alongside, next time you see BJ, ask him about Joe Ducker. In pre-Covid days trombonist Ben Haslam made a big impression. Perhaps fifteen at the time, now at the age of seventeen or so, Haslam is one seriously good musician (But Beautiful, solo, was, well, quite beautiful). What's more, the young man can play the piano! Sitting at Sage Gateshead's Steinway he proceeded to amaze a spellbound audience by knocking out a couple of tunes, including Stevie Wonder's Isn't She Lovely? 

The Cats enjoyed playing a funked-up DoxyMinor Swing swung, and, to conclude an eye/ear-opening set, vocalist Ariah Robertson joined the band to sing a couple of songs including I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire. Make a note of the names, if they choose to make music their career, you'll be hearing more, much more from them.            
JB's Cats: James Birkett (MD, guitar, bass guitar); Bradley Johnston (guitar); Joe Ducker (guitar); Ben Haslam (trombone, piano); Jack Stead (drums); Ariah Robertson (vocals)

The Saturday evening concert began with a short, spirited set by Sage Gateshead's CAT Percussion Ensemble. Illness reduced the intended number of participants but this didn't deter inspirational MD, Roger Hempsall. In the time allocated to the ensemble, Hempsall ensured his charges gave it their all. Two pieces - Militaria and Latinska Melodia - reverberated around the hall, Hempsall setting the pace, rattling out ever-more complex drum patterns. It can be reported that all four young percussionists did themselves proud. 

Paul Edis has made an inestimable contribution to Sage Gateshead's education programme (numerous comments posted to Facebook suggest just that). It would have been fitting if, on the night, Sage Gateshead had, in some small way, acknowledged Paul's achievements. One thing is for certain, as Paul makes London his home, Tyneside and the wider region's musical landscape will be the poorer for it.  Russell             

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