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Bebop Spoken There

Abbie Finn: "Even though there's a lot of great work being done to promote women in jazz, I still come up against some attitudes! I pulled up at a recording session with my drums in the car and the studio owner said, 'I'm sorry, this space is reserved for the drummer!'" - (Jazzwise April 2023).

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!"

Postage

15229 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 248 of them this year alone and, so far, 61 this month (March 20).

From This Moment On ...

March

Thu 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 4:00-6:00pm. Free.
Thu 23: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Bar Loco, Newcasatle. From 6:30pm 'til late. Free. Newcastle University Jazz Orchestra jam session. All welcome (students & non-students).
Thu 23: Kerrin Tatman + John Garner & John Pope @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Thu 23: Sunna Gunnlaugs & Julia Hülsmann @ Sage Gateshead. 8:00pm. A two-piano gig. A Sage Gateshead-JNE promotion.
Thu 23: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Ragtime piano.
Thu 23: Sleep Suppressor @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £10.00., £8.00. adv. Upstairs.
Thu 23: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.
Fri 24: FILM: Mo' Better Blues @ Forum Cinema, Hexham. 7:00pm.
Fri 24: Ian Millar & Dominic Spencer @ Scarth Hall, Staindrop, Co. Durham. 8:00pm. £10.00.
Fri 24: Archipelago + Bulbils @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.

Sat 25: Vermont Big Band @ Walker Community Centre, Walker, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Fundraiser for Benfield Juniours Football Club. Hot food available, BYOB.
Sat 25: John Logan & Friends @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Rat Pack, Motown etc. 8:00pm. Free (donations).

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited @ Park Inn, Hartlepool. 1:00pm.
Sun 26: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 3:00pm.
Sun 26: Outlines @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. JNE promotion (upstairs).

Mon 27: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.

Tue 28: Paul Skerritt @ The Rabbit Hole, Hallgarth St., Durham DH1 3AT. 7:00pm. Paul Skerritt's (solo) weekly residency.
Tue 28: Sanaz Lavasani Trio @ Black Swan, Newcastle Arts Centre. 8:00pm. £12.00 (£10.00. adv).

Wed 29: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 29: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 29: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:00pm.
Wed 29: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Friday, February 24, 2023

Jo Harrop & Paul Edis @ The Gala, Durham - Feb. 24

(© Malcolm Sinclair)
Jo Harrop (vocals); Paul Edis (piano)

As the audience filed into the Gala's top floor studio space one thing was immediately noticeable, this afternoon's lunchtime jazz concert would be played 'long ways on', in other words a portable/temporary stage stood at the far end of the room with regimented rows of seats stretching back towards the entrance. Those arriving early bagged the best seats - ie at or near the front, latecomers occupying the remainder. The capacity audience was there to listen to the voice and piano duo of Jo Harrop and Paul Edis.

(© Malcolm Sinclair)
Jo and Paul are no strangers to this part of the world, hailing, as they do, from the Chester-le-Street area. Now residing in their respective London homes, this Durham date afforded them the opportunity to catch up with family and friends. Cole Porter's I Love You got things under way - Jo in fine voice, Paul the consummate pianist. Dreamsville, the Paul and Kate Edis composition Short Story, the Henry Mancini-Johnny Mercer tune Charade, the set list varied, yet each and every selection seemingly made for Jo's late-night, heart-wrenching delivery.

(© Malcolm Sinclair)
Throughout February, Paul has been busily writing a tune-a-day. A recent request from a member of the audience for a song to celebrate a 90th birthday spurred on our composer-pianist. Paul's birthday present to the recipient, who just happened to be present, took the form of a world premiere performance of Another Day (Happy Birthday the composition's starting point). A nice moment. 

(© Malcolm Sinclair)
The Heart Wants (Jo Harrop & Hannah Vasanth) is something of a signature number, similarly (although very different in terms of tempo and feel), Red Mary Janes and a Brand New Hat (Jo wrote the song with Hannah Vasanth and Natalie Williams). To close a most enjoyable hour we heard You Taught My Heart to Sing (McCoy Tyner and Sammy Cahn). 

Next month's lunchtime concert (March 17) features a top flight European/UK quintet playing the music of pianist Elmo Hope. It's all set to be a cracker and tickets are flying out the door. Russell    
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1 comment :

Anonymous said...

Interesting to see Paul is playing more pop/commercial music since moving to London

Dave K

Saturday, February 25, 2023 2:06:00 am

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