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Bebop Spoken There

Kelly Sill: "Just because everyone is playing through the changes in the same time doesn't mean they're actually playing together" - (JazzTimes March/April 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

15260 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 279 of them this year alone and, so far, 92 this month (March 29).

From This Moment On ...

April
Sat 01: The Big Easy @ St Augustine's Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm.
Sat 01: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. Tutor: Steve Glendinning - In a Minor Key. £25.00. Enrol at: www.jazz.coop.
Sat 01: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington Covered Market, Darlington DL1 5PN. 6:00pm. New venue, live jazz!
Sat 01: Jambone @ Sage Gateshead. 7:00pm. Free (book online). A YMP! event in the Northern Rock Foundation Hall.
Sat 01: Jude Murphy & Dan Stanley @ Prohibtion Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.
Sat 01: Boys of Brass @ Stack, Seaburn. 7:00-9:00pm.
Sat 01: Hot Club du Nord @ Pleased to Meet You, Bridge St., Morpeth. 8:00pm. £79.00. A charity fundraising event.
Sat 01: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00. RESCHEDULED to next week (Sat 08).

Sun 02: Smokin' Spitfires @ The Cluny. 12:45pm.
Sun 02: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 3:00pm.

Mon 03: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.

Tue 04: Paul Skerritt @ The Rabbit Hole, Hallgarth St., Durham DH1 3AT. 7:00pm. Paul Skerritt's (solo) weekly residency.
Tue 04: Jam session @ Black Swan, Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. House trio: Bradley Johnston (guitar); Paul Grainger (double bass); Abbie Finn (drums).

Wed 05: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 05: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 05: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:00pm.
Wed 05: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thu 06: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 06: Thursday Night Prayer Meeting @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Donations. Feat. John Pope, Marie Shreer, John Garner.
Thu 06: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibtion Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Ragtime piano. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.
Thu 06: Darlington Big Band @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Note earlier start time.

Fri 07: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 07: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.
Fri 07: Gaz Hughes Trio @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm.
Fri 07: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Traveller's Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 07: Finntet + Zoë Gilby & Andy Champion @ Bobik's, Punch Bowl, Newcastle. 8:00pm. JNE.
Fri 07: TBA @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig. Blind Pig Blues Club.

Thursday, September 01, 2022

T-A-B plays Miles Davis @ The Bridge Hotel, Newcastle - August 31

Tom Atkinson (guitar); Jack Courtney (trumpet); Sue Ferris (tenor sax, flute); Deon Krishnan (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums)

We'd been here before, last night in fact! Two nights in the Bridge Hotel listening to Tom Atkinson's jazz rock/jazz fusion outfit was an exhilarating experience with no concessions made to those of a fragile disposition. Five musicians committed to the music, played at volume, the audience open to the intensity of it all.
This second night focused upon Miles Davis' Jack Johnson album. The famed American trumpeter was known for his, at times, lack of communication with his audience. As the band took to the stage at the Bridge Hotel it struck your correspondent that Atkinson eschews the limelight. Hiding beneath and behind a cap and dark shades, our man didn't say a word as the T-A-B (Tom Atkinson Band) launched into an uninterrupted set lasting close on ninety minutes.

And launch into the set they did, exploding into a cacophony of noise! Some reviews tend to mention rhythm sections almost as an afterthought. Let's turn it on its head, bassist Deon Krishnan and drummer Jeff Armstrong were immense. Fully concentrated, Krishnan locking onto a relentless groove, Armstrong the powerhouse, à la Jack DeJohnette circa 1970! The horns - trumpeter Jack Courtney and alto saxophonist/flautist Sue Ferris - couldn't have wished for a better foundation. 

Atkinson, pedal board at his feet, was in total command of the situation: searing rock guitar lines with a Zappa-like enthusiasm for a 'jazz chord', Courtney firing spectacular volley after spectacular volley, Ferris doing on alto sax what she frequently does on baritone, that is absolutely nailing it!*

Ninety minutes later we were done. Shyly, Atkinson introduced his band mates. It was the least he could do! Two tremendous gigs. Here's to the next time!

Here's an idea...T-A-B plays Frank Zappa's Hot Rats... Russell

2 comments :

Unknown said...

They was miles beyond!

Chris Kilsby said...

These two gigs sound brilliant. I am so disappointed to have missed them.
The great music of the early 70s (and the groundbreaking style) is worthy of more attention and playing (by musicians like this lot with the talent as well as the inclination!)
Hopefully I'll catch a gig by TAB sometime soon! The repertoire is spot on, maybe some Nucleus while they're on it?!

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