Total Pageviews

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, July 17, 2022

Album Review: Sidney Jacobs - If I Were Your Woman

Sidney Jacobs (vocals/keys/perc); Gene Coye (drums); Solomon Dorsey (elec/acoustic bass); Josh Johnson (alto sax/flute); Chris Lawrence (trumpet); Josh Nelson (piano/keys); Greg Poree (acoustic guitar); Nolan Shaheed (trumpet/flugelhorn); Joakim Toftgard (trombone); Rickey Woodard (tenor sax); Munyungo Jackson (perc); Ron Feuer (keys)

First I made an appointment with the optician so that I could read the very small print on the purple and blue CD cardboard cover. I jest of course, but like many CD covers nowadays, it caused me eye strain. After listening to the album I decided that it should have been reviewed by Steve T as it is much closer to soul music than jazz, but needs must. Sidney Jacobs has a rich baritone voice and puts the songs across well, but I'm no expert on the soul style which isn't really to my taste.

The more jazz-like elements of the album were in the solos from keyboards, trumpet, trombone and sax on various tracks.

Full marks to Mr Jacobs for trying something new, which was to sing songs usually done by women or songs which are identified with women. I'm not sure that the aim was fulfilled, especially in a song such as I Feel Pretty, but whatever, we get some superb singing, with lots of backing singers as well. The form of the album is inventive too, as songs are interspersed with short instrumental passages, soundscapes such as the opening We All, multi-layered vocals and instruments which invoke memories that Jacobs recalled from
hearing the Islamic call to prayer in Thailand. The themes of this opening music re-appear throughout the album.

So we get six soundscapes which are original plus standards, pop and R&B songs. I'll simply describe the songs by quoting from the information supplied: 'the music has a syncopated poly-rhythmic feel underlying richly constructed harmonies'.

This is Jacobs’ second album. Our singer grew up in a musical household in Los Angeles, sang from being young and began writing music aged 14. He studied classical vocals at university, then worked as a psychologist, before taking up music again from 2018, when he sang with the chart-topping group The 5th Dimension, who are a band which crosses musical boundaries. He also pursues a solo career.

The album is available on all digital platforms. LINK Ann Alex

We All; On a Clear Day; Facts; Weave The Tale; Stay Up; Like a Star; Know; I Feel Pretty; I'm Coming Back; Until You Come Back To Me; Human Typography; Been So Long; Light; A Little Bit; If I Were Your Woman; Conversations With Mom 

No comments :

Blog Archive