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Bebop Spoken There

Béla Fleck: “ And that's the great thing about live performances, you take people on a journey. It doesn't have to be like something else they've heard. It's not supposed to be". DownBeat, April, 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.

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, April 06, 2022

The Black Swan jamboree - April 5

Charles Harrison (guitar); John Pope (double bass); Paul Wight (drums) + (more or less in order of appearance) Laurence Harrison (guitar); Edgar Ho (piano); Sam Toulson (alto sax); Oscar Ho (double bass); David Gray (trombone, vocals); Michael Mather (drums); Mike (lap steel guitar); Harry Toulson (alto sax); Isaac Wilson (piano); Edgar Bell (cornet); Josh Mitchell-Rayner (piano); Stan Woodward (bass guitar); ? (drums); Kit Giroux (vocals).

It began Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise. A first time house trio comprising Charles Harrison, John Pope and Paul 'Sid' Wight opened sedately as the audience slowly, but surely, made its way down into the Black Swan cellar bar. Stella by StarlightI Remember You, the foundation set for the evening. This being the end of term, most, if not all, student participants were conspicuous by their absence. However, it's a game of 'swings and roundabouts', the departed students were amply compensated by the return of two or three London-based music students, home 'up north' for a short break. 

And so it was that the returning students - Sam Toulson, Edgar Ho and Oscar Ho - made it one of those unmissable nights. Pianist Edgar called It Could Happen to You. Sam blowing amazing post bop alto sax, bassist Oscar in the 'as good as they come' category. Just think, you could have been at home in front of the telly watching someone baking a cake, repairing a leaking roof or planting spring bulbs...The indefatigable Showtime gave his usual full value performance, blowing 'bone and singing some recently acquired gems from his dabbling on the Dixieland scene - On the Sunny Side of the Street, for one. If David Gray is in the house you know it's gonna be good. 

Lap steel guitar isn't heard too often at a jam session. Come to think of it, has it ever been heard at a Jazz Cafe/Black Swan session? Thanks to Mike, albeit under-amplified, we heard some lap steel. Better still, a lap steel take on Naima! You couldn't make it up! The Knats' boys arrived, well, two of them at least. Pianist Josh Mitchell-Rayner and ace Jaco/Stanley funkmeister Stan Woodward, joined by keen cornet man Edgar Bell, Michael Mather spelling Sid and Showtime stoked it up on Milestones. Charles Harrison's brother Laurence, an equally fine guitarist, joined the party as Footprints received more of the Knats' treatment, these guys aren't short on chops! 

The twenteen crew must have suddenly felt like veterans when Isaac Wilson, all of fifteen, perhaps sixteen, occupied the piano stool. What a great player this lad is! Let's hope he keeps on turning up at the Black Swan. And then, seemingly the sole Newcastle University student in the house, Kit Giroux got up to sing James Shelton's Lilac Wine. Elkie Brooks had a huge hit with the number, however, Kit's reference point was Jeff Buckley's version. Those who were regular jam session attendees at the old Jazz Caff around the corner will never forget the occasion Nishla Smith silenced the room with her spell-binding take on Don't Explain. It won Smith a standing ovation. This evening Kit Giroux produced an amazing, impassioned performance. To coin a phrase, you could hear a pin drop, until an outbreak of thunderous applause. 

The next Black Swan jam session (April 19) house trio features another Harrison, the one-and-only James Harrison. Our pianist will be joined by the Main Man, bassist Paul Grainger, and Harrison's old mate, drummer Tom Chapman. Who else turns up is anyone's guess. And that's the beauty of these sessions, dare you miss out?! Russell        

3 comments :

Paul Grainger said...

Sounds like (yet another) great night. Thanks for writing the review Russell. I know that positive comments/reports on the highlights of these sessions encourage players and listeners alike to come along to the Jam.
Once slight amendment - James H and Tom C have had to pull out of the next jam on the 19th, as they have a panto/theatre related awards event in London (on no, they haven't!; oh yes they have!). I'm lucky that I've been able to dip into the pool of local talent and arrange to be joined instead by the magnificent pairing of Mark Williams on guitar and Tim Johnston on drums. Hope to see you there.

Brian shine said...

I would love to see Alan law as a regular keyboard player for the house trio jam sessions, its now two jam sessions in a row without that vital keyboard that sets the mood just right,also I feel without the above, you don't encourage singers like Jan to attend

Brian Shine said...

I would love to see Alan Law as a regular keyboard player for the house trio jam sessions, it's now two jam sessions in a row without that vital keyboard that sets the mood just right,also I feel without the above, you don't encourage singers like Jan to attend.

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