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Bebop Spoken There

Billy Boy Arnold: “As long as you don't think old you're good.” - DownBeat, December, 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!"

Simon Spillett: A lovely review from the dean of jazz bloggers, Lance Liddle...

Postage

16051 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 1058 of them this year alone and, so far, 12 this month (Dec. 6).

From This Moment On ...

December

Mon 11: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 11: Interim Final Recitals @ Newcastle University. Details TBC.

Tue 12: Stu Collingwood Organ Trio @ Forum Music Centre, Darlington. 7:00pm. £10.00.

Wed 13: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 13: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 13: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 13: Bold Big Band @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm.
Wed 13: Giles Strong Quartet @ Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thu 14: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 14: Hot Fingers @ The Lubetkin Theatre, Peterlee. 7:00pm. £10.00.
Thu 14: After Hours Student Jazz Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 14: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. . Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 14: Niffi Osiyemi Trio @ Harbour View, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 14: Mo Scott ‘Little Mo’s Festive Appearance’ @ The Schooner, Gateshead. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 14: Tees Hot Club w. Kevin Eland, Josh Bentham, Garry Hadfield, Adrian Beadnell @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Fri 15: Paul Edis @ Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 15: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 15: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 15: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 15: Paul Skerritt @ Black Horse Inn, Crook. From 7:00pm.
Fri 15: Paul Edis: A Jazzy Christmas @ St Cuhtbert's Centre, Crook. 7:30pm. £15.00. SOLD OUT! Waiting list open.
Fri 15: Zoë Gilby Trio @ Seventeen Nineteen, Hendon, Sunderland. 7:30pm. £12.00. POSTPONED!
Fri 15: Strictly Smokin' Big Band @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 8:00pm. First night of two. SOLD OUT!
Fri 15: Darlington Big Band @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £10.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 15: Baghdaddies @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00.; £10.00.

Sat 16: Paul Edis: A Jazzy Christmas @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 2:00pm. A Jazzy Christmas + Jambone.
Sat 16: Porritt & Barrett & Friends Xmas Special @ Cullercoats Watch House. 7:00pm. £4.00.
Sat 16: Milne-Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 16: Red Kites Jazz Band @ The Staithes Café, Gateshead. 7:00pm--9:00pm.
Sat 16: Hayley's Little Big Band @ Ellingham Village Hall, Chathill. 7:30pm. £12.00., £8.00.
Sat 16: Paul Edis: A Jazzy Christmas @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.
Sat 16: Strictly Smokin' Big Band @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Second night of two.

Sun 17: Red Kites Jazz Band @ Gibside Chapel, nr. Rowlands Gill. 1:00-2:30pm.
Sun 17: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm.
Sun 17: Revolutionaires @ Tyne Bar, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Rock ‘n’ roll excellence!
Sun 17: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Alehouse, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 17: The Globe Xmas Party @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Multi-bill inc. David Gray’s Flextet + jam session.
Sun 17: Paul Edis: A Jazzy Christmas @ Queen's Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm. £17.00., £15.00.
Sun 17: Hayley's Little Big Band @ Amble Parish Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00., £6.00.
Sun 17: Snake Davis Trio @ St John’s Hall, Snods Edge, Shotley Bridge DH8 9TJ. 7:30pm. £15.00. from 07766 037893.

Saturday, July 09, 2022

The Simon Spillett Big Band @ Wigan Jazz Festival - July 8

The Village on the Green in Aspull welcomed a capacity audience to the opening concert at this year's Wigan Jazz Festival. To describe the Simon Spillett Big Band as 'all-star' doesn't do justice to the calibre of musician on stage. Spillett, an A-list attraction in his own right, has assembled an amazing band, chock full of fellow A-listers, all sections comprising band leaders and featured soloists. 

Opening with Dear Johnny B, the concert, from beginning to end, would feature the music of Tubby Hayes (Hayes the composer, Hayes the arranger, Hayes the soloist). The first of many blistering solos during the evening fell to Sam Mayne (alto sax) and Steve Fishwick (trumpet). Many in the audience had come from far and wide to hear Spillett's band and this first number confirmed/reaffirmed their faith in Tubby Hayes and Simon Spillett.

Much of the set list was drawn from Tubbs' Tours and 100% Proof. Spillett's scholarly work on Hayes shone through, both in his playing (blistering tenor solos on Hayes' arrangement of Milestones and Seven Steps to Heaven, but two instances) and in his erudite commentary on Hayes, the man and his music. As MD, Spillett lead the band with boundless energy and vigour, the love for his subject - Tubby Hayes - shining through. 

And what of the band? In a word: Wow! The trumpets, the aforementioned Steve Fishwick, alongside Mark Armstrong, last minute dep Simon Finch, and top C maestro Bruce Adams. The 'bones...all top guys - Mark Nightingale, Andy Flaxman, Ian Bateman (featured on Blues for Bloody Morag) and Pete North. The not-too-shabby reeds...go along the line - Alan Barnes on baritone, the altos of Pete Long and Sam Mayne, and the tenor saxophonists Robert Fowler and Karen Sharp. The latter two trading on Sonnymoon for Two making for a show-stopping finale. 

Rhythm sections don't come better than this - Robin Aspland at the Steinway depping for Rob Barron, the imperious Alec Dankworth, bass, and big band drummer par excellence, Pete Cater. The Simon Spillett Big Band at Wigan will live long in the memory. More immediately, catch the band tomorrow (Sunday) at the Swanage Jazz Festival. 

Simon Spillett Big Band: Simon Spillett (MD, tenor sax); Mark Armstrong, Simon Finch, Steve Fishwick, Bruce Adams (trumpets); Mark Nightingale, Andy Flaxman, Ian Bateman, Pete North (trombones); Sam Mayne, Pete Long, Robert Fowler, Karen Sharp, Alan Barnes (reeds); Robin Aspland (piano); Alec Dankworth (double bass); Pete Cater (drums)

Set list: Dear Johnny BAs Close as You ArePedro's WalkBluesology; SourayaMilestonesShe Insulted Me in MarrakeshSong for a Sad LadyTake Your Partners for the BluesRussian RouletteThe ScandinavianBlues for Bloody MoragPeaceSeven Steps to HeavenSolweig ; Sonnymoon for Two.

1 comment :

"Jazz Lives" @ WordPress.com said...

Hooray for the noble Simon and his bandmates! Well-deserved on all fronts. And backs.

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