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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

Thu 28: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 28: Gateshead Jazz Appreciation Society @ Gateshead Central Library, Gateshead. 2:30pm.
Thu 28: Richard Herdman Quartet @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 28: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Guests: Josh Bentham (alto sax); Alan Marshall (tenor sax); Neil Brodie (trumpet); Adrian Beadnell (bass); Graham Thompson (keys); Steve Hunter (drums).

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.

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.

Wednesday, December 01, 2021

SK2 Jazz Orchestra @ Whelley Ex-Servicemen's Club, Wigan - Sept. 26

(Photo from 2016 Wigan Jazz
Fest courtesy of Dave Tyas)
A powerful and impressive afternoon of big band jazz prevailed on September 26  at Whelley Ex-Servicemens Club in Wigan. The capacity crowd enjoyed the SK2 Jazz Orchestra led by drummer Dave Tyas. This 20-strong (boasting 6 trumpets and 5 trombones) juggernaut provided a wondrous mix of four decades worth of Stan Kenton selections. The work of writers like Bill Holman, Johnny Richards, Bill Russo, Pete Rugolo, Hank Levy and Mark Taylor were heard. 

Highlights for this listener included Holman's treatment of Jerome Kern's Yesterdays featuring the impassioned yet measured tenor sax of Rick Halliwell. Trombonist, Lee Hallam's fleet linearity on Bill Russo's Frank Speaking (for Frank Rosolino) also scored highly. The haunting harmonies and rhythmic dynamism of Hank Levy's Chiapas resonated early in the second set. This opened a pathway for more Latin American flavoured pieces to follow. Excerpts from Mexican born jazz composer, Johnny Richards' iconic Cuban Fire Suite as well as songs from  Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story I Feel Pretty and America.

The sheer number of blowers onstage prevents one from citing  the numerous protagonists soloing. The fluid trumpet improvisations of Tom Sharp and Steve Valentine, Lee Hallam's trombone as well as saxophonists,  Rick Halliwell, Munch Manship and Rod Mason all contributed impressively. Also, the mellifluous flugelhorn of Albert Mike Atkinson came to the fore on Body and Soul, arranged by Herb Phillips. It was originally penned  for Bobby Shew and Atkinson's lyrical delivery made it his own.

The  jazz orchestra began in 1983 - known then as the Shades of Kenton Jazz Orchestra. Original drummer, Dave Tyas, took the helm in 2013 and the SK2 has moved from strength to strength since. Thanks also to the good offices of Ian Darrington and his fine crew of soldiers of Sunday Jazz in Wigan who have done such a fine job with the monthly gigs at the Whelley Club as well as the annual Wigan Jazz Festival which will be held on 8-10 July 2022. For more information on upcoming events, logon to www.musiccontinuum.co.uk.

Frank Griffith's weekly radio show "The Jazz Cavern" can be heard on www.mykindamusic24.com on Thursday's at 9PM. UK time.

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