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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

Friday, December 02, 2022

Swing Manouche @ BATH - Dec. 2

Mick Shoulder (guitar); Dave Smith (guitar); Martin Winning (clarinet); Paul Grainger (double bass)

Jazz at Bishop Auckland Town Hall chalked up another full house this afternoon and little wonder with Swing Manouche on stage. Mick Shoulder's outfit - Mick guitar, Dave Smith, rhythm guitar, Martin Winning, clarinet, Paul Grainger, string bass - is fast developing into a force to reckoned with in the rarified world of gypsy jazz. 

To a degree, the term 'gypsy jazz' indicates the kind of jazz the listener is likely to hear. It could suggest the Manouche, WWII Hot Club, Django Reinhardt with or without Hubert Rostaing, French musette etc. Here at BATH, Swing Manouche mixed it up with classic Django, a lyrical musette, an original composition or two and a barnstorming finale.

Bandleader Mick Shoulder is, perhaps, better known as a bass player of some renown, but make no mistake, toting a six-string acoustic, he's a match for many of the specialists out there. To his left, Dave Smith is just the kind of rhythm guitarist required on a gig like this. Relatively new to the world of live performance, Dave gets his head down, his band mates beneficiaries of his precision playing. 

Mystérieuse (musette), the standard If I Had You, classic Django with Douce Ambiance, Swing Manouche made a whole bunch of new fans. Bassist Paul Grainger, often heard working in other contexts (straight ahead, contemporary and more), appears to be revelling in the material. Propulsive yet unobtrusive bass playing alongside Dave Smith's spot on timing laid the foundation for Mick and clarinettist Martin Winning to do their thing. And do it they did!

It was in pre-pandemic days when Martin relocated to the region and what an asset he has become to the local scene. In possession of a cast iron technique, Martin adds that something extra, call it 'star quality' and the Laurel Cafe's audience got a taster of it on the set-closing Dark Eyes. Cue sustained applause. 

The date of the first Bishop Auckland Town Hall lunchtime concert in 2023 is to be announced. Russell

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