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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.

Thursday, June 23, 2022

Album review: Chris Allard & Ross Stanley - Tortugas

Chris Allard (guitar); Ross Stanley (piano).

An interesting duo set by two fine musicians working in a format we don't usually associate  with them. It is, in many ways, as much an extemporised classical performance as an improvised jazz one - if there is a difference!

The interplay between guitar and piano brings to mind John Lewis and Milt Jackson with MJQ and, to my mind, exudes more warmth. They seem to have an intuitive sense of direction as to who's going where and as to what will and will not work.

It may be well rehearsed but, if it is, they have managed to retain a feeling of spontaneity. 

Fellini's Waltz has a beautiful lilt that made me feel like waltzing (if only I knew how!) Waltz for Libby didn't make me feel like waltzing and I was glad I didn't know how. It was clunky and  it wasn't until the latter stages that it loosened up.

The little known (to me) Cole Porter tune Use Your Imagination was an absolute gem and Jive Coffee had both players percolating the jive and the java. 

Critter has a flamenco feel to it. Very Spanish with some agile fingerstyle guitar almost as if  Allard was the toreador warming up to face el toro. Willow Weep For me is jumpier, swingier, than most versions of the song breathing a breath of fresh air and new life into what is normally a morbid tune.

The title track, Tortugas - Tortuga being a Haitian Island, a turtle or a Spanish word meaning torturous (take your pick) - is deep, meaningful and contemplative suggesting the middle option possibly conformed by the plural. There being only one island discounts the former and it is unlikely the protagonists would choose the latter - they would leave that description to less perceptive reviewers than myself.

See the Pyramid is aptly titled opening as it does with some pyramidic arpeggios from  Allard before both players go into a swinging groove. Luiza, by Tom Jobim is pure romance. Play this track and you won't need a Flask of Wine or a Book of Verse just a Thou.

Allard's Grand Lament finishes the album in a melancholic mood. Both players proving you don't have to play the blues to depict a blue feeling.

An album that, with repeated playing, I became more and more attached to.

Release date is July 8 - Lance

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