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Bebop Spoken There

Charles McPherson: “Jazz is best heard in intimate places”. (DownBeat, July, 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

16611 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 1504 of them this year alone and, so far, 50 this month (July 23).

From This Moment On ...

July

Sat 27: BBC Proms: BBC Introducing stage @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 12 noon. Free. Line-up inc. Nu Groove (2:00pm); Abbie Finn Trio (2:50pm); Dilutey Juice (3:50pm); SwanNek (5:00pm); Rivkala (6:00pm).
Sat 27: Nomade Swing Trio @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sat 27: Mississippi Dreamboats @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sat 27: Milne-Glendinning Band @ Cafédral, Owengate, Durham. 9:00pm. £9.00. & £6.00. A Durham Fringe Festival event.
Sat 27: Theon Cross + Knats @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 10:00pm. £22.00. BBC Proms: BBC Introducing Stage (Sage Two). A late night gig.

Sun 28: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm.
Sun 28: Miss Jean & the Ragtime Rewind Swing Band @ Fonteyn Ballroom, Dunelm House (Durham Students’ Union), Durham. 2:00pm. £9.00. & £6.00. A Durham Fringe Festival event.
Sun 28: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: Nomade Swing Trio @ Red Lion, Alnmouth. 4:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 28: Jeffrey Hewer Collective @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 28: Milne Glendinning Band @ Cafédral, Owengate, Durham. 9:00pm. £9.00. & £6.00. A Durham Fringe Festival event.

Mon 29: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 30: ???

Wed 31: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 31: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 31: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

August

Thu 01: Gateshead Jazz Appreciation Society @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:30pm. £4.00.
Thu 01: Funky Drummer @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 01: Elsadie & the Bobcats @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 02: Mainly Two @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free (donations). SOLD OUT! Fri 02: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 02: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 02: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 02: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. POSTPONED!

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    

1 comment :

Anonymous said...

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

Dave K

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