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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, January 13, 2023

Abbie Finn Trio @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle - Jan 12

(© Ken Drew)
Abbie Finn (drums); Harry Keeble (tenor sax); Paul Grainger (double bass)

On Pink Lane is the new album by the Abbie Finn Trio and no better place to launch the CD than right here on Pink Lane. The old Jazz Cafe (now Prohibition Bar) is the place where Abbie didn't first meet Harry but did first meet Paul. Jam session MC, Paul Grainger, invited Abbie Finn to sit in, a while later Harry Keeble pitched up and a musical partnership was forged. Fast forward a few short years and here they were, with an album launch gig, on Pink Lane.

(© Ken Drew)
Northern Perspective introduced the trio to a wider jazz public, a second, three track recording, Abbie Finn Trio Live at the 2021 Newcastle Jazz Festival, emerged as a digital-only release, now we have On Pink Lane. Upstairs at Prohibition Bar, Abbie 'did the door', Harry sold raffle tickets, a typical DIY jazz gig. Abbie and the 'boys' would play all nine tracks from the new album (all nine written and arranged by A. Finn). The set list would almost exactly mirror the album's running order, the trio opening with North Sea Wind. An opening statement, then, within a few bars, Abbie, Harry and Paul were in a swing time groove, Harry quoting, albeit fleetingly, a GASbook/bop number. And onto the title track, On Pink Lane. First impressions? Another subtle swinger with some tremendous tenor saxophone playing by HK. Several numbers have been heard at gigs over the last twelve months or so - The Warren, Mirador de Los Paleos (PG bass solo), Big Old Spice Cabinet (blistering tenor sax) - and their familiarity did no harm, on the contrary. 

Second set notes read: 'A good tune' in reference to A Real Job (flowing, swinging, AF taking it out). The album's closing track - Jazz the Cat - closed the 'play through' element of the evening, notes reading: 'Blistering' (HK stands charged with peeling the paint!). A successful album launch, mission accomplished. Fortunately there was still time to revisit Northern Perspective. Three numbers - Umlazi Morning (comp. P. Grainger), Ginnungagap (comp. H. Keeble) and Abbie Finn's Walkabout (a touch of Sonny Rollins in Keeble's playing, bass man Grainger walking the trio through it) - sent us on our way with a keen North Sea wind (North Sea Wind!) blowing on Pink Lane. 

The Abbie Finn Trio will be out and about over the coming weeks and months. The Lescar in Sheffield is the next stop (Wednesday next week, Jan 18, if you're in that neck of the woods). Russell        

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