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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, May 01, 2022

Darlington Jazz Festival: Durham Alumni Big Band + Durham Music Service Big Band @ Central Hall - April 29

It was three years ago (2019) when the Durham Alumni Big Band last featured at a Darlington Jazz Festival. The pandemic-enforced cancellation of the event two years running seemed to galvanise the 2022 audience, turning out in good number, determined to enjoy an evening of big band jazz. As the Alumni took to the stage, scanning the sections, it appeared almost all of the regular faces were occupying their usual chairs. The first half of the evening's concert would feature the band's intended pre-pandemic salute to VE Day 75. The second set would broaden the repertoire.

Flying Home. Imagine the Goodman-Hampton chart being played on VE Day. It captured the mood, the very essence of the occasion. It was as if the Alumni had never been away, the evening's first feature solo courtesy of tenor man Harry Keeble. A Matt Roberts' arrangement of Harry Warren's I Wish I Knew, Stan Kenton's arrangement of A Foggy Day in London Town, the boys and girls of the Durham Alumni Big Band were Back in the Swing     
             
Second set, more nostalgia and something slightly more up to date. Sammy Nestico's Feelin' Free (trumpets in unison), an Al Wood arrangement of Bernie's Tune (Mr Wood was in the audience), Big Dipper from the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis pad 1972 (perilously modern!) featured, first pianist Dean Stockdale, followed by Keeble blowing yet more assured tenor. Basie's version of Bye Bye Blackbird, Mark Armstrong (NYJO's supremo) supplied an arrangement of A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square (Terry O'Hern and Stevie McGarvie soloing). Swing Low, Sweet Chariot as played by the '49 USAAF Miller outfit heard the Alumni's trombones to great effect. And as the evening was drawing to a close Doc Severinsen's take on In the Mood found Keeble and McGarvie engaging in a friendly joust. Gershwin? I Got Plenty o' Nuttin'. Make no mistake, Durham Alumni Big Band is Back in the Swing.   

Durham Alumni Big Band: Shaune Eland (MD), Ian Robinson, Jonny Dunn, Billy Bradshaw, Andrew Meadowcroft (trumpets); Andrew Kirtley, Terry O'Hern, ?, ?, Alastair White (trombones); Harry Keeble (tenor sax); Eoghann Furness (tenor sax); Stevie McGarvie (alto sax, soprano sax); Kirsty Dunn (alto sax); Danielle Drew (baritone sax); Shaun Henderson (guitar); Dean Stockdale (piano); Amy Baker (bass); Stephen Fletcher (drums)

Earlier, Durham Music Service Big Band opened the programme with a short but fast paced set. MDs Amy Leggett and Billy Bradshaw put their young charges through their paces. Eoghann Furness (tenor sax) and alto saxophonist Heather Kim set the standard with fine solos on Neal Hefti's Sunday Morning. Stevie Wonder's Living for the City powered along and a set of some thirty five minutes went out on a high with When Sunny Gets Blue. Russell

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