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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.

Sunday, November 27, 2022

Jean Toussaint Quartet @ Sage Gateshead - Nov. 26

(© Pam)
Jean Toussaint (tenor sax); Jonathan Gee (piano); Mutale Chashi (bass/bass guitar); Ben Brown (drums).

This was almost the gig of the year - almost!  Every saxophone player on the planet should have been there, marvelling at the tone and technique of a jazz legend, and quite a few of them were there.

Toussaint blew up a storm. An updated version of what Hank Mobley, James Moody, Dexter Gordon and Harold Land were past masters at. An ace rhythm section with pianist Gee particularly outstanding added more class to the mix. Tremendous!

(© Pam)
However, the problem I faced was the gig's concept theme - Songs for Sisters, Brothers and Others - which didn't quite work for me laudable as the idea was.

Composed during lockdown, each piece represented one of his siblings - and there were a few - as well as a town in Spain. Unlike, for example, Ellington's Sophisticated Lady where the title says it all these compositions could have been applied to anyone. A few introductory words relating to the subject's personality would have made it easier for me to connect them to the music.

Nevertheless, that aside, they were good tunes anyway although the programming could have been better. To include a potentially showstopping extended drum solo on the second number in, seemed somewhat strange. This was a number to go out on with all guns blazing!

(© Pam)
Likewise, the only non-original piece, God Bless the Child, paid scant attention to the melody. Chashi switched over to electric bass and Brown played a jazz rock tempo. It was great, it was exciting but not quite what Billie Holiday had in mind when she made the original recording way back in 1941.

Still, overall, it was an enjoyable evening and I hope it won't be over ten years before he returns* Lance


*Jean Toussaint appeared at The Bridge on April 29, 2012.

2 comments :

internationalpartygirl said...

Great review Lance --- agree re the timing of the show-stopping drum solo and yes... what a difference it would have made just to have had a few words of the sibling's personalities!

shepherdlass said...

Great review Lance,but have got to say I loved that version of God Bless the Child. He definitely stated the original melody twice because I was (quietly) singing along, delighted by the funk feel.

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