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Bebop Spoken There

Branford Marsalis: "As ignorance often forces us to do, you make a generalisation about a musician based on one specific record or one moment in time." - (Jazzwise June 2023).

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!"

Postage

15491 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 512 of them this year alone and, so far, 133 this month (May 31).

From This Moment On ...

June
Thu 01: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 01: Thursday Night Prayer Meeting @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Donations.
Thu 01: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Ragtime piano. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.
Thu 01: Jake Leg Jug Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Thu 01: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Fri 02: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 02: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 02: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.
Fri 02: Joseph Carville Trio @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm.
Fri 02: Claire Martin & Her Trio @ The Witham, Barnard Castle. 7:30pm. £25.00., £20.00. Feat. Jim Mullen, Alex Garnett & Jeremy Brown.
Fri 02: Guy Davis + Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. Doors 7:30pm. Blues double bill.
Fri 02: Anders Ingram @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Blind Pig Blues Club. Country blues. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.

Sat 03: Newcastle Record Fair @ Northumbria University, Newcastle NE8 8SB. 10:00am-3:00pm. Admission: £2.00.
Sat 03: Pedigree Jazz Band @ St Augustine's Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm.
Sat 03: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. Tutor: Sue Ferris. £25.00. Enrol at: www.jazz.coop.
Sat 03: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 6:00pm. Free.
Sat 03: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 03: Papa G's Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.

Sun 04: Smokin' Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm.
Sun 04: Central Bar Quintet @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00-4:00pm. £5.00. The Central Bar Quintet plays Sonny Rollins' Saxophone Colossus. Featuring Lewis Watson.
Sun 04: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 3:00pm.
Sun 04: Struggle Buggy + Michael Littlefield @ Tyne Bar, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Acoustic blues.
Sun 04: Swinging at the Cotton Club: Harry Strutters' Hot Rhythm Orchestra @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.
Sun 04: Richard Jones Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 05: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.

Tue 06: Paul Skerritt @ The Rabbit Hole, Hallgarth St., Durham DH1 3AT. 7:00pm. Paul Skerritt's (solo) weekly residency.
Tue 06: Jam session @ Black Swan, Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. House trio: Stu Collingwood (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Sid White (drums).

Wed 07: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 07: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 07: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:00pm.
Wed 07: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Sunday, July 24, 2022

Album review: Joe Webb - Summer Chill

Joe Webb (piano, Hammond organ); Alex Haines (guitar); Will Sach (double bass); João Caetano (percussion); Jas Kayser (drums); Fraser Smith (tenor sax, track 9); Kitty Liv Durham (auxiliary percussion)

Joe Webb has been living and working in London for the best part of ten years. Kansas Smitty's lockdown sessions, streamed from their then London base, won a whole new audience for a predominately younger, supremely talented generation of musicians. Pianist Webb was one of those musicians who made a great impact on the online viewing public. A sold out nationwide tour playing the music of Art Tatum further enhanced the genial Webb's reputation. Now there is a new album to enjoy, Summer Chill.

The music on this Ubuntu Music album is a world away from Tatum, Peterson et al. Summer and Chill suggest a laid back vibe and that's precisely what we have here. Jazz, rhythm and blues and popular hit songs of the day are approached with boundless enthusiasm: Webb's seemingly effortless virtuosity, both at the piano and Hammond organ, Alex Haines' guitar cutting through on Yea Yea (it's Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames' chart-topping Yeh Yeh) and Joe Zawinul's Money in the Pocket, rising star drummer Jas Kayser and percussionist João Caetano (Kitty Liv Durham is credited with supplying 'auxiliary percussion') are in inspired form throughout the album's thirty four minutes' playing time, and then there's ace bassist Will Sach, dropping anchor from the downbeat. 

Catalan Jumper and Errolesque spread the summer vibe and, what's more, they're Webb originals - the latter number (one 'l') Errolesque being a nod to Erroll Garner. Corner Pocket is taken at a somewhat quicker tempo than Freddie Green's much-loved composition, the lesson here is one shouldn't expect slavish recreation. One Mint Julep features grooving guest tenor saxophonist Fraser Smith (Webb at the Hammond) and the closing track, I Can't Help Falling in Love with You is a solo piano feature with Webb suitably respectful of the tune. 

Summer Chill isn't about to redefine jazz or popular music, it's to be enjoyed for what it is - an energetic, fun, chilled session. It's a fair bet the musicians enjoyed themselves recording the album, all but the most demanding listener is likely to enjoy it too.

Joe Webb is to play an album launch gig at London's 100 Club on August 1 Russell

Summer Chill is available now from Ubuntu Music (catalogue number UBU0115). 
                        
Tweedle Dee; Comin' Home Baby; You Are My Sunshine; Yea Yea; Money in the Pocket; Catalan Jumper; Errolesque; Corner Pocket; One Mint Julep; I Can't Help Falling in Love With You

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