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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.

Thursday, October 27, 2022

Mike Nock Trio @ the Jazz Lab, Melbourne, Australia - Oct 17

Mike Nock (piano); Jacques Emery (bass); Chloe Kim (drums).

The Jazz Lab is situated at 27 Leslie Street, Brunswick, Victoria and replaced the well known Bennetts Lane Jazz Club which was subject to a compulsory purchase order. When in Melbourne I used to like going to a jazz spot called Dizzy's in Richmond but that is no longer in operation so it seemed that the best bet to hear some jazz would be the Jazz Lab, a venue that I had never previously visited but which holds jazz events seven days a week.

I was hoping to get tickets for Mellissa Aldana but these were sold out. However, we did manage to get tickets for the late Monday night show by the Mike Nock Trio. Returning to Australia after 25 years in the USA, New-Zealand born pianist Mike Nock is now based in Sydney but he is known by many worldwide for his work on recordings by John Handy, Yusef Lateef, and Michael Brecker

From Cairnlea where I was staying it was a short drive to the Jazz Lab and we managed to park the car a few yards from the entrance which was good if you happen to have leg problems like I do. Inside it was starting to fill up but we managed to grab a couple of seats at the front right opposite the Yamaha Grand piano. After a short welcoming speech from club-owner and festival artistic director Michael Tortini, Mike Nock appeared along side his bass player and drummer and explained that he would be playing music from his ECM album ONDUS which he recorded four decades ago. He would make no further announcement until the end of the concert.

He had a very forceful playing style and gazed intently at a sheet music score turning the pages to and forth and looking like he was enjoying himself immensely. His bass player was heavily featured throughout the performance and his solowork was well received by the near capacity audience. Emery is a prominent Sydney-based musician and educator and is well suited to this trio. Drummer Chloe Kim got a great sound on her cymbals and then got into some thunderous sounds towards the end of the hour and a half concert.

This was a bit different to the sort of trio music I'm used to hearing at the Railway in Stockport but it was a great experience and I think I will perhaps make a return visit to the Jazz Lab before my journey back to the UK next Wednesday. The Jazz Lab certainly ticked all the boxes and can be added to my list of great jazz venues. Mike Farmer

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