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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 06, 2023

Sunday night @ the Globe: Xhosa Cole's Rhythm-a-ting - March 5

(© Sheila Herrick)
Xhosa Cole (tenor sax); Steve Saunders (guitar); Josh Vadiveloo (double bass); Nathan England Jones (drums)

The downstairs jazz bar at the Globe was packed. The anticipation was high and, unlike those Man U fans who went to Anfield, they weren't disappointed.

A tribute to Thelonious Monk without a pianist could, at first glance, be seen as Abbott without Costello, Romeo without Juliet, Bill without Ben - you name it! However, the Rhythm-a-ting project is aimed at honouring the great man's music rather than just running down some of his jazz standards. They did just that whilst, at the same time, avoiding any suggestion of plagiarism.

It was done brilliantly. The four cool dudes on stage, told us before they'd even started that this was no tee shirt, jeans and trainers outfit but a band who'd show respect to the music in both appearance  and execution - and execute it they did! They nailed it!

(© Ken Drew)
The Globe was transformed into the Five Spot, the venue where Monk played and recorded so many sessions and Xhosa had us feeling we ourselves were there back in the day.

However, this was now and the music came across as relevant as it did then.

Cole blows hard and fast although he can be sensitive when sensitivity is needed. I've Got a Crush on You brought tears to my eyes, not just because it was surely the best, live,  instrumental ballad, of the year so far. Not even because it had a personal significance for me going way back, but because it was just so - beautiful.

(© Ken Drew)
Vadiveloo was featured on Ugly Beauty, exchanged fours with Cole on Criss Cross and with Jones on Trinkle Tinkle. Saunders proved to be the perfect foil for Cole with frequent lengthy solos and Jones drove things along unfazed by the sudden changes of tempo.

Other numbers included Epistrophy and a fantastic In Walked Bud. There was also a Cole original - Andy's Shuffle - dedicated to one of his former teachers the late Andy Hamilton arguably Birmingham's greatest ever jazz musician although, on the strength of this performance, that title could be under threat!

The built in 'encore' was Duke's Come Sunday but the audience demanded more and they got it. Unfortunately, I had to leave before the title was revealed. The 27 bus waits for no one - not even Thelonious Sphere Monk. Lance

1 comment :

Russell said...

A memorable gig, simple as that.

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