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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.

Monday, November 28, 2022

Nu Civilisation Orchestra: Joni Mitchell's Hejira & Mingus @ Fire Station, Sunderland - Nov. 27

This was some occasion. An eighteen piece big band's end of tour concert drew a sizeable audience to Sunderland's pride and joy, the Fire Station on High Street West. Tomorrow's Warriors is an institution, and under the guidance of its Artistic Director, Gary Crosby, the Nu Civilisation Orchestra is an ensemble boasting established names working alongside some of tomorrow's star names. The music of Joni Mitchell required a vocalist capable of doing justice to the legendary Canadian singer-songwriter's songbook...step forward ESKA. 

Technical issues delayed the advertised start by some twenty minutes but once we got going it was well worth the wait. Peter Edwards, baton in hand, counted 'em in, ESKA singing A Chair in the Sky. As the evening progressed it became evident that many Joni Mitchell fans were in attendance. What would the non-jazz fan make of it all? Horns, strings, an ace rhythm section, backing vocalists, the ensemble respectful of the material, ESKA's vast range delighting Mitchell aficionados, the jazz fans digging the soloists and ensemble work. Time and again ESKA  came up with the goods, not least on Furry Sings the Blues. Our vocalist vacated the stage, leaving it to the Nu Civilisation Orchestra to go into overdrive on Haitian Fight Song. This was Mingus coming out fighting, slugging anyone who got in his way. Wow! 

Special mention of Denys Baptiste, quiet, yet magisterial, particularly on Goodbye Pork Pie Hat. And then, and then...bassist Jihad Darwish (known to some as Jo Harrop's bass player), absolutely immense in the role of Jaco Pastorius. A standing ovation, Janine Irons presenting Edwards and ESKA with end-of-tour bouquets, Edwards turned to the audience: Would you like another one? As one, the emphatic reply: Yeah! The Nu Civilisation Orchestra went out on God Must be a Boogie Man. Yes, indeed. Russell        
    
Peter Edwards (conductor); ESKA (vocals); Will Gibson (alto sax, flute); Denys Baptiste (tenor sax); Rhiannon Jeffreys (baritone sax, flute); Becca Toft (trumpet); Rosie Turton (trombone); Georgio Serci (acoustic guitar); Maria Grapsa (piano, keyboards); Jihad Darwish (bass guitar); Eddie Hick (drums); Tello Morgado (percussion); Rhiannon Dimond (violin); Valeria Pozzo (violin); Jules Dos Reis (viola); Miranda Lewis (cello); Cara Crosby-Irons, Kianja Harvey-Elliott, Loucin Moskofian (backing vocals)

Set list included: A Chair in the SkyHejiraRefuge of the RoadFurry Sings the BluesAmeliaGoodbye Pork Pie HatHaitian Fight SongBlack CrowGod Must be a Boogie Man.

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