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Bebop Spoken There

Béla Fleck: “ And that's the great thing about live performances, you take people on a journey. It doesn't have to be like something else they've heard. It's not supposed to be". DownBeat, April, 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

Thu 28: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 28: Gateshead Jazz Appreciation Society @ Gateshead Central Library, Gateshead. 2:30pm.
Thu 28: Richard Herdman Quartet @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 28: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Guests: Josh Bentham (alto sax); Alan Marshall (tenor sax); Neil Brodie (trumpet); Adrian Beadnell (bass); Graham Thompson (keys); Steve Hunter (drums).

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.

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.

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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