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Bebop Spoken There

Simon Spillett: “ Bebop and hard bop came naturally to him [Tubby Hayes]". Morning Star, March 28, 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

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.
Fri 29: True Colours @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 9:00pm. Blues, jazz & swing.

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.

Thu 04: FILM: Soul @ Forum Cinema, Hexham. 2:00pm. Jazz-themed film animation.
Thu 04: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 04: Funky Drummer @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 04: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 04: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

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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