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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.

Monday, March 13, 2023

GNBBJF - Sunday 5 (Schools Section)

Sunday morning, bright and early. Following a workshop for a group of young musicians, the second day of competitive big band action began at eleven o'clock. Schools from across the region and one or two from further afield would battle it out to be crowned best band at the 2023 edition of the Great North Big Band Jazz Festival. Later in the day it would be the turn of the youth ensembles. 

Yarm School Big Band (MDChris Hibbard). Yarm School, not too far south of Chester-le-Street, made a welcome return to the GNBBJF with Chris Hibbard putting his young charges through their paces. No fewer than five pieces formed Yarm's programme, opening with Bobby Timmons' Moanin' and closing with the old warhorse Bei Mir Bist Du Schon, the band's bass player made a good impression (notes read: Good bass player). Vocalist Elise Wilcock sang a couple of numbers which went down well with the Park View audience. What would the adjudicators think?

All the way from Telford, Haberdashers' Abraham Darby Jazz Band (MDTom Gledhill) returned to defend last year's 'Best Band' winning appearance. The Shropshire outfit, led by 'Mr' Tom Gledhill, opened with something of a surprise selection - Lennon and McCartney's I Saw Her Standing There (arr. Dave Wolpe). Trumpeter Ed Follos scored points on Bill Liston's Another Look at the Diminished Chord and the band signed off with Kris Berg's Feather Report. A stout effort, would it be enough to see the band make a successful title defence? 

A first appearance at Chester-le-Street by Ponteland High School Big Band (MDPhilip Rosier) suggests music education in that part of the world (a couple of miles west of Newcastle International Airport) is on the up. Four numbers, opening with Joe Zawinul's Birdland and closing with Gordon Goodwin's ever popular Jazz Police, the ensemble did Ponteland High School proud. Would the adjudicators be inclined to make an award?

Last, but by no means least, the band from Harrogate, St Aidan's Swing Band (MDVicki Elliott) would conclude the morning's session. Previous winners at the GNBBJF, Vicki Elliott's swinging band (see photo) produced an excellent performance. It Don't Mean a Thing (if it ain't got that swing)Splanky (good ensemble work), My Funny Valentine as arranged by Sammy Nestico, St Aidan's certainly put themselves in the frame. Carnival Kerfuffle closed the set. The winning band? The adjudicators were about to make the all important decision. 

Following a short intermission the presentation party assembled on stage and festival director Bill Watson read out the results as follows:     

Adjudicators' award: Bass player (Yarm School Big Band)

Adjudicators' award: Lauren Campbell, vocal (Ponteland High School Big Band)

Adjudicators' award: Elise Wilcock, vocalist (Yarm School Big Band)

Best Programme: St Aidan's Swing Band

Best Section: Brass section (trumpets & trombones), St Aidan's Swing Band

Best Soloist: Ed Follos, trumpet (St Aidan's Swing Band)

Best Band: Haberdashers' Abraham Darby Jazz Band 

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