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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

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.

Mon 16: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 16: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Wheatsheaf, Benton Sq., Whitley Road, Palmersville NE12 9SU. Tel: 0191 266 8137. 12 noon. £9.95. ‘Festive Turkey Dinner’. Book now: 0191 266 8137.
Mon 16: Paul Edis & Friends: A Jazzy Xmas @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.

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

Monday, December 20, 2021

R.I.P. Phil Kelly - Death of a stalwart

We are devastated to have lost an absolute stalwart of Take it to the Bridge. For many years, Phil Kelly was a regular audience member who often sat on the door (with good friend Norman Redhead) as the smiling guardian of our £1 subs and raffle tickets. 

Apparently on a night out with friends, he had a fall. He went home and was found dead by neighbours next day. It’s unclear at present whether an injury from the accident proved fatal or something underlying had caused him to fall in the first place. Presumably we will hear more in the next few days. 

 

This was a man whose knowledge of and passion for jazz was second to none.  He paid almost annual visits to the jazz clubs in New York and always came back with T shirts, baseball caps, CDs, Village Voices and fascinating stories of artists who we needed to check out. If there was a jazz gig anywhere in the region, chances are you’d see Phil there. 

 

Phil’s literary awareness and fury at political idiocy was matched only by his genius for telling the worst imaginable jokes.  In the past couple of years he’d dipped his toe in the waters of singing (very ably) with the jam regulars and had even bought a trumpet – he was a keen student. He was also a highly talented artist as you can see from the portrait of Freddie Hubbard which he gave to Dave some years ago.

 

Take it to the Bridge regular Roy Stephenson remembers, “Phil was always there when I first started coming along to TITTB at the Chilly.  Always a kind word and a bad joke :-).

I remember Phil suggesting we visit a club, Swing 46, in NYC when Daphne took me there for my 70th.  A wonderful club off Times Square -  full of wonderful people and music - a recommendation I’ll always remember and in doing so always remember Phil.”

 

RIP brother. We’ll miss you very much. Jude

5 comments :

Russell said...

Such sad news. Whenever I went along to Take it to the Bridge, Phil would be there on the door with a ready smile. On one occasion, he greeted me wearing a Louis Armstrong House Museum t-shirt. Phil had just returned from one of his frequent visits to New York. He handed me a copy of Hot House (NYC's jazz 'what's on' magazine) knowing I'd appreciate it. I last saw Phil little more than two weeks ago. As I walked into the Hotspur pub on Percy Street in Newcastle he walked over, smiling, to say 'hello'. Phil will be sorely missed.

Norman Redhead said...

What can I add other than say he will be sadly missed and I am the proud owner of one of Phils magnificent pencil sketches of drummer Roy Haynes which he did as a thank you for taking him home after the weekly jam sessions
A great guy
Farewell Phil
Norman Redhead

Dave said...

This is a lovely eulogy for my wonderful and much-missed friend Phil. I'm so happy to say that I visited NYC with Phil in 2002. All the above is spot on. I'll come along and see you at the jazz sometime; I did have the great pleasure of meeting Dave and some of you once (with Phil) when I saw you in Heaton!

Beautiful tribute, love to you all.

Dave Reed

Unknown said...

I met Phil at school with Dave Reed. He was a very dear and close friend for many many years. He could make you laugh until you cried but also could say subtle things that made you think then laugh after a few seconds. Things he said and did have stayed with me and I still say them nearly every day, if not indeed every day. He’s made a huge impression on my life. Goodbye dear friend.
Dave Hardy

Margaret said...

I sat with the guy a few times at the Jazz club(the Globe) seamed a really nice guy,his jokes were awful,I loved them!.R.I.P.
Yours G.

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