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Bebop Spoken There

Kurt Elling: ''There's something to learn from every musician you play with''. (DownBeat, December 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

17630 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 904 of them this year alone and, so far, 49 this month (Dec. 20).

From This Moment On ...

December

Mon 23: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Wheatsheaf, Benton Sq., Whitley Road, Palmersville NE12 9SU. Tel: 0191 266 8137. 1:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Mon 23: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 4:00pm. Free.
Mon 23: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Mon 23: Milne-Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.

Tue 24: Lindsay Hannon & Mark Williams @ Ernest, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 11:00am-1:00pm. Free.
Tue 24: Paul Skerritt @ Mambo Wine & Dine, South Shields. 1:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.

Wed 25: Wot? No jazz!

Thu 26: The Boneshakers @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. The 17th annual Boneshakers’ Shindig.

Fri 27: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free. Business as usual!.
Fri 27: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 27: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

Sat 28: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 11:30am. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 28: Fri 20: Castillo Nuevo @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Sat 28: Jude Murphy, Rich Herdman & Giles Strong @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 28: Ray Stubbs R & B All-Stars @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Stepney Bank, Newcastle. 9:00pm. Free.

Sun 29: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 29: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

Tuesday, December 06, 2022

Martin Litton's Uptown Hall Gang @ The Spice of Life - Dec. 5

Michael McQuaid (clarinet, trumpet); David Horniblow (clarinet, alto sax, tenor sax); Alistair Allan (trombone); Martin Litton (piano); Julian Bury (double bass, drums); Richard Pite (drums, double bass)

It was in the early hours when the Cable Theft Gang struck. Somewhere in the Retford area a section of East Coast main line cable went missing...Calling all cars! Calling all cars! Round up the usual suspects.Trains cancelled, trains delayed, best laid plans 'n' all that ...

The proposed non-stop service from Newcastle to King's Cross wasn't going anywhere, period. All aboard the next available train. Aboard the next available train it was standing room only, a much desired scenario at a jazz gig but not on a train. The best part of one hour late arriving in London, it was touch and go as to whether or not your correspondent would make it in time for the down beat at the Spice of Life. 

Arriving at Cambridge Circus with seconds to spare, just time to order a pint of Guinness, Martin Litton's Uptown Hall Gang made a start with Mel Powell's My Guy's Come Back

The troops on parade were familiar faces, veterans of the Classic Jazz Party up on North Tyneside: Michael McQuaid (clarinet and trumpet); David Horniblow (reeds); Alistair Allan playing mellifluous trombone; Richard Pite (Spice of Life MC, drummer and, on one number this afternoon, string bass) and, of course, pianist Martin Litton. The one new face, new to BSH, was bassist Julian Bury. Litton's men, much like members of Glenn Miller's Army Airforce Band, were making a quiet buck on this Uptown Hall Gang gig. 

Litton's informative and witty commentary evoked time (early '40s) and place (WW II Paris), small group sessions (minus Miller), working with Django Reinhardt, all very romantic. Mel Powell originals (Triple), standards (RosettaLady Be Good), whatever the material Litton's men read their parts like the pros they are. Where or When, a dangerously modern Night in TunisiaI'll Remember April, the Uptown Hall Gang's tight ensemble playing and frequent hot solos entertained the Spice of Life's Monday lunchtime regulars and the occasional out of town visitor. Russell  

1 comment :

Lance said...

Ah! The Uptown Hall Gang. Bernie Priven, Peanuts Hucko, Carmen Mastren. Ray McKinley and Mel Powell - one of the most underrated jazz pianists of all-time. I think I'll go and play my Esquire album of the band who had that nice easy swing of the pre-bop bands.
Shame about the cable theft that delayed your arrival but at least you weren't flying across The Channel in a light aircraft in bad weather and you did at least get there.

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