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Bebop Spoken There

Ambrose Akinmusire: “ I am certainly always aware of what the masses are doing. And when I see too many people going one way, I'm going another way - even when I don't know what's over that way". DownBeat, March, 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

Tue 19: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Tim Johnston.

Wed 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 20: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 20: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 21: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 21: Castillo Neuvo Trio + Conor Emery & His ‘Bones Band @ The Grove, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £10.00. (£7.00. student).
Thu 21: Remi Banklyn + Chris Corcoran Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.50. Chicago blues. An International Guitar Foundation promotion.
Thu 21: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Ragtime piano.
Thu 21: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 22: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 22: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 22: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 22: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 22: Nauta + Remy CB + Last Orders @ Hoochie Coochie, Newcastle. 8:30pm (7:30pm doors). Free.
Fri 22: Vasilis Xenopoulos-Paul Edis Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £15.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 22: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 23: Jambone @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Free (ticketed). End of term performance in the Northern Rock Foundation Hall.
Sat 23: Milne-Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 23: Red Kites Jazz @ Rowlands Gill Community Centre NE39 1JB. 7:00pm. Tickets: £12.00. (gibsidecommunityfarm@gmail.com). A ‘Build a Barn’ fundraiser. BYOB, tea/coffee available.
Sat 23: New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00. + bf (book in person at venue - no booking fee!). Featuring pianist Martin Litton.
Sat 23: Pete Tanton’s Cuba Libre @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 24: Musicians Unlimited @ Park Inn, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 24: Luis Verde @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. Verde (alto sax); Joe Steels (guitar); John Pope (double bass); John Hirst (drums). Alto sax brilliance!
Sun 24: Elsie Franklin @ The Globe, Newcastle. 3:00pm. £10.00. Country blues. An International Guitar Foundation promotion.
Sun 24: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay Metro Station. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: Las Vegas Live with the Rat Pack @ The Forum, Billingham.
Sun 24: Ian Millar & Dominic Spencer @ Otterburn Memorial Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Sun 24: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Note start time - 7:00pm.
Sun 24: Bold Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 25: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Wednesday, September 07, 2022

The Good Times Rolled at the Black Swan Jam last night - Sept. 6

James Harrison (keys/drums/daft carry on); Paul Grainger (bass); Tom Chapman (drums) + Harry Keeble (tenor sax); Esther Coombes (alto sax/clarinet); Haaruun Miller (alto/sop sax); Nigel Greenwood (alto sax); David Gray (trombone/vocals); Edgar Bell (cornet); Ben Phillips (keys); Alex Shipsey (bass guitar); ? (guitar); Felix Parkin-Christie, Kris Finney, Abbie Finn (drums); Ian Drever, Niffi Osiyemi, Paul Skerritt, Sheila Herrick (vocals) - there may have been more...

Nobody sleeps when James Harrison's on board! He plays every number as if it's the grand finale. He sits, he stands, he jumps up and down and, if he had a hat he'd be pulling rabbits out by the dozen! OTT? Most definitely. However, in between all these outrageous antics (which included a drum duet) he plays some mighty fine piano and it has to be said his playing inspired some of tonight's jammers to reach their highest level ever.

As can be seen from the cast of thousands listed above a blow by blow account of each and every one would make War and Peace seem like an editorial in the Shields Gazette so, rather than offend by omission, I won't... except to say that the final blast with Niffi and Paul (Skerritt) duking it out on Let the Good Times Roll with the horns riffing was memorable to say the least. Also, Sheila's additional lyrics to Every Day I Have the Blues gave the number a new dimension and Ben Phillips' Night and Day offered a sobering contrast to James' pianistics. David Gray was in actual fact nicknamed 'Showtime' by James which, upon reflection, was a case of the kettle calling the frying pan. David is fast becoming as renowned a vocalist as he is a slideman as he proved on Misty.

Ed Bell raised his game on the final jam, Esther is rapidly becoming a contender on both alto and gobbo, Felix listens and learns, Nigel played Come Sunday (on Tuesday), Harry gets Tubbier (as in Hayes) every session, Haaruun blew fine alto and did ok on soprano. Nice to see Alex on bass guitar - it's been awhile - Ian Drever threatened to shatter the crystal ball but, after the knobs were twiddled, the balance was better for One For my Baby. As well as Felix, Tom, Kris and Abbie ensured that the ship stayed afloat. 

Good to see some new faces as well as some - I won't say older - others such as James' parents. It was a grand night and, as always, a big thank you to Paul Grainger for keeping the jam going - Lance.

PHOTOS (by Lance unless otherwise stated).

2 comments :

Elaine Harrison said...

Really enjoy your write ups, Lance.
It was great to see you and to be there enjoying the atmosphere 🥰

Patti Durham (on F/b) said...

What a blast this was! A storming session - I'm still amazed that the piano stool survived James's acrobatics!

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