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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.

Monday, December 26, 2022

Album review: The Heavy Hitters

Mike LeDonne (piano); Eric Alexander (tenor sax); Jeremy Pelt (trumpet); Vincent Herring (alto sax); Peter Washington (bass); Kenny Washington (drums) + Rale Micic (guitar on tk 6).

An upcoming 2023 release that has certainly got next year off to a cracking start. Come December 31, 2023 this is the benchmark the contenders will have to try and surpass and it won't be easy. Get down to a bookie joint now for the best odds.

Nine originals comprising of six by LeDonne and three by Alexander played by six of New York's heaviest hitters - hence the album's eponymous title.

The nod is towards the classic Blue Note period, not by looking back but rather giving it relevance today. Recorded in Rudy Van Gelder's New Jersey studio, where so many great albums were made, that distinctive sound is retained and, to add to the Blue Note connection, the cover design is also reminiscent of those halcyon days.

However, the real deal is in the players themselves. Pelt, a powerhouse in the tradition of Lee Morgan and Freddie Hubbard, with Herring and Alexander carrying the torch lit by Cannonball and Dexter - making it burn even brighter. Leader LeDonne builds on the teachings of his idol Cedar Walton and provides heads that would slot into any decade from the 1940s to today, tomorrow and forever after. The two unrelated Washingtons provide the solid support and drive for which they are renowned and it is no surprise that Peter Washington is said to be the most recorded bassist of his generation. I doubt if drummer Kenny is far behind him.

Serbian guitarist Micic only appears on Alexander's Chainsaw but he makes the moment tell - think Ellis, Kessel, Hall and you're in the ballpark. Me? I'm off to see what odds my bookmaker will give me on The Heavy Hitters winning some magazine's CD of the Year. Lance.

Release date: January 20, 2023

Hub; New Day; Silverdust; Un Dia Es Un Dia; Big Richard; Chainsaw; This is Something New; Cedar Land; Bluesit.

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