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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

Wednesday, December 07, 2022

Paul Edis Sextet @ Soho Pizza Express - Dec. 5

Paul Edis (MD, piano); Freddie Gavita (trumpet); Vasilis Xenopoulos (tenor sax, flute); Rory Ingham (trombone); Adam King (double bass); Joel Barford (drums)

Relocating from the north east of England to London in the early part of 2020, the little matter of a pandemic stopped Paul Edis in his tracks. Not that our man was left twiddling his thumbs, on the contrary, weekly online lockdown gigs maintained a connection with his audience and he continued to compose new material. Fast forward to a Monday evening in December 2022 and the Soho Dean Street Pizza Express was all but full. And little wonder, we were there for the long-delayed debut performance of the Paul Edis Sextet.

An earlier incarnation of the sextet boasted some of the very best musicians from 'up north', Edis' London based ensemble comprises six (Edis being one) of the very best, and most in demand, musicians in the capital city. The Timothys maintained Edis' 'up north' connection (family in-laws). Some of us were familiar with the number, most were hearing it for the first time. Who knows how much rehearsal time these guys had but all hit the ground running - Freddie Gavita stepped up, followed by Rory Ingham and Edis himself before Joel Barford demonstrated why he is one of the 'go-to' drummers. An excellent, confident start. What's more, the audience liked it!

Edis' old mate Vasilis Xenopoulos nailed a tremendous tenor sax solo on Mr Hipster (check out the Mr Hipster 'up north' sextet album), VX never fails to deliver. The first set served to reprise tried and tested material, the London guys getting their heads around the charts which included EasternMissing You (Edis' personal note to Kate) and a storming set closer, Blues for Dad. Scribbled notes read: Edis...wow!Adam King...yeah! Barford! Yes, it was a canny first set, alright!

A quick 'hello' to Paul and Vasilis, another bottle of Fuller's Honeydew, and we were ready to go again. 

Introducing a new band is one thing, unveiling a new suite of music is something else altogether. The Covid Suite (it could/should be a working title, there must be a better title - answers on a postcard!) would, explained Edis, be played in full without further commentary. Heavy stuff? Potentially. However, hearing the Paul Edis Sextet play the material proved to be a joy. Elements of Ellington, Blakey-esque sections, and, of course, the indelible stamp of composer Paul Edis. And so we heard: The New NormalPerilous DanceThe Daily Briefing (remember them?!), Too Much to Take In (information overload courtesy of Whitty et al!) and The Vaccine. Marvellous ensemble work, top notch solos, a listening, receptive audience, let's call the evening a success! Here's an idea...how about taking it on the road? Russell        

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