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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.

Thursday, October 13, 2022

Zach Okonkwo's Hypothetical: Works inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement @ King's Hall, Newcastle University - Oct. 13

Zach Okonkwo (drums); Jimmy Jefford (tenor sax); Daniel Vildósola (guitar); Will Hobson (piano); Harry Gould (bass guitar)

It was a homecoming of sorts for two of the quintet performing in King's Hall this afternoon: bandleader Zach Okonkwo and tenor saxophonist Jimmy Jefford are alumni of Newcastle University. Drummer Okonkwo remarked that it seemed like a long time ago when he and Jefford graduated way back in 2018. Guitarist Daniel Vildósola, pianist Will Hobson and five-string bassist Harry Gould were the unknown quantities. The set, all-too-brief at thirty minutes, would feature two of Okonkwo's compositions and two modern jazz standards. 

Okonkwo's Ndubisi is named after his father (Mr Ndubisi was present in King's Hall) and tells of their father and son relationship. Okonkwo led from the front, his band mates reading their charts. An all round solid opening, one sensed there was more to come. The two standards in the set - Herbie Hancock's Maiden Voyage and Joshua Redman's Hide and Seek - encouraged the quintet to stretch out a little. Okonkwo's arrangement of Hancock's familiar tune was given, as indicated by the band leader, a 'modern twist'. Jefford stepped up on the Redman number, Okonkwo's programme notes stating the one-time Bold Big Band leader would replicate 'the unique extended techniques of Joshua Redman while still making the tune his own'. Jefford's tenor playing reminded the Newcastle audience, if anyone had forgotten, just what he could do. Excellent.

To conclude the performance, Okonkwo spoke eloquently of his disbelief at the unfolding events of January 6, 2021 (the failed insurrection in Washington DC). His response was to compose Hypothetical, in so doing incorporating elements relating to the murder of George Floyd. As the quintet dug into the material (Jefford, Vildósola, Hobson and Gould making decisive contributions) segments of Dave Chappelle's '8:46' powerful speech detailing the death of George Floyd were introduced into the sound mix, and for a moment, Okonkwo took the handbrake off. Sometimes music speaks louder than words. Russell
                     
Set list: NdubisiMaiden VoyageHide and SeekHypothetical.

1 comment :

Unknown said...

Thank you for coming, it’s a shame I didn’t catch you before you left! Also a shame that I clearly can’t tell the time as 30 minutes is very brief you are right! It was my first outing as a band leader/playing my own material and it was a pleasure to do it in front of such a caring audience. As a ‘hired gun’ of sorts I under estimated how exposed you are when playing your own music but as I said it was a pleasure to do it in a safe environment. I hope to return and do it again...just a bit longer the next time!

All the best
Zach Okonkwo

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