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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.

Wednesday, August 10, 2022

The Abbie Finn Trio @ Forum Music Centre, Darlington - Aug. 9

Abbie Finn (drums); Harry Keeble (tenor sax); Paul Grainger (bass)

I had the pleasure of attending a gig at Darlington’s Forum Music Centre last night to hear the Abbie Finn Trio. They have been described as  Exceptional British Jazz by Chris Philips of JazzFM and  A masterclass in straight ahead jazz by BSH’s own Russell Corbett in the Northern Echo and it wasn’t hard to see why. The musicianship of all three: Abbie Finn on drums, Harry Keeble on tenor sax and Paul Grainger on double bass, was outstanding.

The terrific set they played included a variety of covers as well as numbers penned by each of the three.

Covers included  Chick Corea's Windows and Don Grolnick's Nothing Personal –  both of which appear on the band’s first studio album Devil May Care (Bob Dorough), The Saga of Harrison Crabfeathers (Steve Kuhn), Duke Ellington/Juan Tizol's Caravan, played as a samba and Goodbye Pork Pie Hat, Charles Mingus' poignant memory of Lester Young.

Own compositions included a variety of styles: Harry Keeble’s Ginnungagap (in 5/4 straight 8s); Abbie Finn’s Big Old Spice Cabinet (Latin); So it’s True* (funk); North Sea Wind* (swing); and Paul Grainger’s On Pink Lane* (swing) apparently written in celebration of the Newcastle jazz jam’s original home (now in The Black Swan on Westgate Road).

Also, my two favourites of the evening: Abbie’s The Labyrinth* achieving a high-pitched tom-tom effect using mallets and turning the snare off (I had to ask her afterwards how she did it – I hasten to add) oh and the bow came out for the double bass! And, finally, Paul Grainger’s Umlazi Morning (Afro-Cuban).

The Forum provided a perfect venue for this gig – a lit stage but with an intimate atmosphere allowing Abbie to chat directly with the very appreciative audience – no mic in sight.

A band definitely worth seeing – I’ll go again. 

*All numbers bearing the * feature on the trio’s new studio album – recorded just two weeks ago. Any other own compositions mentioned are from the first studio album. Jan Spencelayh

3 comments :

Russell said...

Great review! Harry's Ginnungagap is a top tune.

Paul Grainger said...

Thanks for the kind words Jan. It was lovely to see you.
Once slight amendment, On Pink Lane was written by Abbie. Great tune!

Ron said...

What a lovely review Jan of a great band

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