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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.

Saturday, December 24, 2022

Strictly Smokin' Big Band @ Hoochie Coochie - Dec. 23

Michael Lamb (MD), Zak Eastop, Gordon Marshall, Dick Stacey (trumpets); Mark Ferris, Kieran Parnaby, Chris Kurgi-Smith, John Flood (trombones); Dan Johnson, Matt Forster, Steve Summers, Keith Robinson, Sue Ferris (reeds); Pawel Jedrzejewski (guitar); Graham Don (piano, vocals); Michael Whent (bass guitar); Guy Swinton (drums); Alice Grace,  (vocals).

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times! 

Musically it couldn't be faulted and, even with a few deps, no one was complaining. Certainly not the dancers who, crowded the floor proving that I can still get around much - albeit with difficulty as will be revealed later.

The band moved, the dancers moved and one of the non-dancers was moved to remark that he doubted if Ellington ever imagined his Such Sweet Thunder would be choreographed by a statuesque blonde in a micro-mini skirt who appeared to have, my quote, Ford engine movements in her hips!

This was on the Friday before Christmas where everybody stirred (or shaked) and not even a mouse wanted to leave the house of music known as Hoochie Coochie.

Such is the appeal of a big band in full flight. A band capable of incorporating the sounds of the past into the sounds of today and SSBB is just such a band and more.

Leader Lamb has built and nurtured this band for over 20 years bringing it up to a standard where it can hold its head high in any company and, in the meantime, developed his own jazz chops which deserve more exposure.

Tonight was similar to their recent sell-out shows at Gosforth Civic Theatre albeit with a few small changes. The seasonal chestnuts remained although Mel Tormé would have been disappointed that none were roasted on an open fire but Ms Grace's invitation to Santa Baby to hurry done the chimney tonight must have boosted the sales of Santa Claus outfits and Cadillac cars.

Not that Alice was the only vocalist. Some soulful sounds from - was it Sardi, Sandy or Cindy? I didn't catch the name but, in Hoochie, your ears sometimes take a big hit. She was equally brilliant and, hidden amongst the rhythm section, Graham Don reprised his knockout vocal from last week on Merry Christmas Baby. This always reminds me of Shelly Manne's vocal on Kenton's Blues in Burlesque (comp/arr Maynard Ferguson). Now if ever there was a marriage waiting to be made this is it!

The deps took most of the solos although, as always, altos Summers and Robinson were outstanding and of course guitarist Pav and Mr bassman Whent. It was a great gig and a worthy addition to my somewhat premature Gig of the Year list.

So, I hear you ask, what's all this about it also being the worst of times?

The weather, the non existent buses. After half an hour waiting in the rain for buses that didn't bus I'd almost decided to abort my journey when, by some miracle, good triumphed over evil and an overcrowded 27 eventually arrived.

Thank you God - or was it t'other fellow? Lance

1 comment :

Strictly Smokin' Big Band said...

Hi Lance - huge thanks again for another review. Vocalist was Sanaz Lavasani 👍🏻

All the best for 2023 to everyone at Bebop!

- Michael & the SSBB

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