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Bebop Spoken There

Ambrose Akinmusire: “ I am certainly always aware of what the masses are doing. And when I see too many people going one way, I'm going another way - even when I don't know what's over that way". DownBeat, March, 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

16287 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 169 of them this year alone and, so far, 41 this month (Mar 18).

From This Moment On ...

March

Tue 19: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Tim Johnston.

Wed 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 20: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 20: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 21: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 21: Castillo Neuvo Trio + Conor Emery & His ‘Bones Band @ The Grove, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £10.00. (£7.00. student).
Thu 21: Remi Banklyn + Chris Corcoran Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.50. Chicago blues. An International Guitar Foundation promotion.
Thu 21: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Ragtime piano.
Thu 21: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 22: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 22: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 22: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 22: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 22: Nauta + Remy CB + Last Orders @ Hoochie Coochie, Newcastle. 8:30pm (7:30pm doors). Free.
Fri 22: Vasilis Xenopoulos-Paul Edis Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £15.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 22: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 23: Jambone @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Free (ticketed). End of term performance in the Northern Rock Foundation Hall.
Sat 23: Milne-Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 23: Red Kites Jazz @ Rowlands Gill Community Centre NE39 1JB. 7:00pm. Tickets: £12.00. (gibsidecommunityfarm@gmail.com). A ‘Build a Barn’ fundraiser. BYOB, tea/coffee available.
Sat 23: New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00. + bf (book in person at venue - no booking fee!). Featuring pianist Martin Litton.
Sat 23: Pete Tanton’s Cuba Libre @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 24: Musicians Unlimited @ Park Inn, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 24: Luis Verde @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. Verde (alto sax); Joe Steels (guitar); John Pope (double bass); John Hirst (drums). Alto sax brilliance!
Sun 24: Elsie Franklin @ The Globe, Newcastle. 3:00pm. £10.00. Country blues. An International Guitar Foundation promotion.
Sun 24: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay Metro Station. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: Las Vegas Live with the Rat Pack @ The Forum, Billingham.
Sun 24: Ian Millar & Dominic Spencer @ Otterburn Memorial Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Sun 24: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Note start time - 7:00pm.
Sun 24: Bold Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 25: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Saturday, May 13, 2023

Hexham Jazz Festival: Rachel Sutton + The Ushaw Ensemble @ Hexham Abbey - May 12

The 2023 Hexham Jazz Festival got underway in the splendid setting of Hexham Abbey with performances by Rachel Sutton and The Ushaw Ensemble. Taking a pew alongside a sizeable audience, the installation of several screens relaying the on-stage action proved to be a welcome innovation given that the sight lines aren't the best. Some came prepared with cushion in hand designed to give some relief from the unforgiving hard-as-teak (quite possibly teak) pews.

Rachel Sutton (vocals); Roland Perrin (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); Steve Hanley (drums) 

Vocalist Rachel Sutton is a favourite on the London jazz scene and here in Hexham Abbey she was introduced to the congregation by Jazz FM's Nigel Williams. Up from the 'Smoke' with her regular accompanist Roland Perrin, Sutton's impassioned, theatrical performance embraced a selection of standards and original compositions. All of MeComes LoveBut Not for Me, Ms Sutton's expressive vocals were backed up by the impressive Perrin at the grand, alongside two of the north's finest, the 'Champster', that's bassist Andy Champion, and from Yorkshire, the ever-reliable Steve Hanley, drums. The cavernous venue's acoustics aren't particularly conducive to intimate, cabaret-style performance, credit to the musicians for somehow making it work.

The Ushaw Ensemble: Paul Edis (MD, piano); Emma Fisk (violin); Andy May (Northumbrian pipes); Graham Hardy (trumpet, flugelhorn); Graeme Wilson (tenor sax, bass clarinet, flute); Paul Susans (double bass); Rob Walker (drums)

Earlier, Paul Edis returned to his native north east to revisit his Arts and Words Festival commission The Lindisfarne Gospels. Given the subject matter, there could hardly be a more suitable venue than Hexham Abbey. The Ushaw Ensemble is an occasional project, joining Edis to perform a continuous suite of music were out-and-out jazz musicians and a Northumbrian piper. Comprising nine parts, Edis no doubt wrote the music with specific musicians in mind. 

At either end of the 'frontline', violinist Emma Fisk and piper Andy May created other worldly sounds, sounds which would have been heard in ancient times. In the sonically challenging space of Hexham Abbey it was, perhaps, Graham Hardy's brass instruments which fared best (trumpet and flugelhorn) alongside Graeme Wilson's flawless contributions, principally on tenor sax with some bass clarinet and flute adding colours to his palette. Local lad, bassist Paul Susans, and first call drummer Rob Walker anchored and enhanced Edis' musical vision. 

The Hexham Jazz Festival is well and truly underway. Further concert performances are scheduled across the weekend in Hexham Abbey, Queen's Hall Arts Centre and the Forum Cinema. Full details at: www.queenshall.co.uk. Russell 

1 comment :

Patrick said...

I agree fully with your observations regarding the acoustics - the Abbey was not an ideal venue.

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