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Bebop Spoken There

Kurt Elling: ''There's something to learn from every musician you play with''. (DownBeat, December 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

17630 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 904 of them this year alone and, so far, 49 this month (Dec. 20).

From This Moment On ...

December

Fri 20: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 20: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 20: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 1:00-3:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 20: Baghdaddies @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 20: Smokin’ Spitfires @ Platform 1, East Bedlington Community Centre. 7:00pm.
Fri 20: Pete Tanton’s Christmas @ 1719, Hendon, Sunderland. 7:30pm. CANCELLED!
Fri 20: Alligator Gumbo @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 20: Abbie Finn’s Finntet @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 20: Brass Fiesta @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 10:30pm. Free.

Sat 21: Lindsay Hannon Quartet @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £15.00. ‘Swinging with Christmas Songs’.
Sat 21: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 21: Jackson’s Wharf Xmas Party @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 7:00pm. Free. Featuring the New ’58 Jazz Collective.
Sat 21: Brass Fiesta @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 10:30pm. Free.

Sun 22: Hot Club du Nord @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £15.00. + bf. Xmas party. SOLD OUT!
Sun 22: Red Kites Jazz @ Gibside Chapel, nr. Rowlands Gill. 1:00pm. Admission charge applies.
Sun 22: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 22: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: Revolutionaires @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Superb rhythm & blues outfit.
Sun 22: Laurence Harrison, Paul Grainger & Mark Robertson @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Line-up TBC.
Sun 22: The Globe Xmas Party @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Live music (musicians TBC).
Sun 22: Ray Stubbs R & B All-Stars @ Zerox, Sandhill, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors).

Mon 23: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Wheatsheaf, Benton Sq., Whitley Road, Palmersville NE12 9SU. Tel: 0191 266 8137. 1:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Mon 23: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 4:00pm. Free.
Mon 23: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Mon 23: Milne-Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.

Tue 24: Lindsay Hannon & Mark Williams @ Ernest, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 11:00am-1:00pm. Free.
Tue 24: Paul Skerritt @ Mambo Wine & Dine, South Shields. 1:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.

Wed 25: Wot? No jazz!

Thu 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free. TBC.
Thu 26: The Boneshakers @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. The 17th annual Boneshakers’ Shindig.

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

Monday, May 08, 2023

Preview: Hexham Jazz Festival (May 12-14)

Post-pandemic, and after many a year, in 2022 Hexham Jazz Festival returned to the Northumberland market town. Way back when, the late Ray Brown and co were at the helm, now, with a new management team in place, this year's event looks bigger and better than ever. Beginning on Friday (May 12) the festival is set to expand its activities with concerts once again in Hexham Abbey and, this year, in Queen's Hall on Beaumont Street. Additional performances are scheduled to take place in the grounds of the Abbey, fingers crossed the weather is kind! Throw in a couple of masterclass sessions at Core Music on Gilesgate and an intriguing film presentation at the Forum Cinema and it's beginning to look something like a proper jazz festival!
On Friday evening Paul Edis opens this year's festival in Hexham Abbey with a performance by his acclaimed Ushaw Ensemble. Previous performances in suitably ecclesiastical venues - Ushaw on the outskirts of Durham and off the north Northumberland coast on Holy Island (Lindisfarne) - attracted considerable interest, not to mention large audiences, and this festival concert (7:00pm) is likely to do likewise. The Ushaw Ensemble is a star-studded affair including Northumbrian piper Andy May and violin virtuoso Emma Fisk. Recommended. Following the Ushaw Ensemble at half past eight, An evening with Rachel Sutton presents vocalist Rachel Sutton with her A-list trio featuring pianist Roland Perrin, bassist Andy Champion and drummer Steve Hanley. It all adds up to a superb start to the 2023 Hexham Jazz Festival!

Saturday (May 13) it's Hexham Abbey once again for another double bill. At seven o'clock Freddie Benedict takes to the stage with a 'who's who' of a band! Emerging from his role as vocalist with the renowned National Youth Jazz Orchestra and sellout concerts at Ronnie Scott's, Benedict will be accompanied by Paul Edis, piano, Jamie McCredie, guitar, APPJAG winner Emma Rawicz, saxophone, bassist extraordinaire Andy Champion and drummer, the redoubtable Steve Hanley. The publicity blurb reads: ...a perfectly mixed cocktail of cool jazz standards and Brazilian sambas. Rest assured, it'll be much, much more than that! And you'll really get your money's worth with the evening's closing concert featuring the wonderful Jo Harrop. Originally from Chester-le-Street, Jo is currently riding the crest of a wave with a series of sell out shows around the country and the little matter of a successful recent trip to the Big Apple. Join Jo and the 'house band' (see Freddie Benedict) at 8:30pm. And if you're up for it, at 10:30pm Jazz FM's Nigel Williams will present a DJ set in the Great Hall.

Earlier on Saturday, there is an opportunity to attend masterclass events at Core Music. At 11:00am Freddie Benedict, accompanied by pianist Paul Edis, conducts a workshop aimed at aspiring singers. Emma Rawicz follows at two o'clock, again in the company of Paul Edis, to lead a saxophone workshop. Places are limited, be sure to book in advance.   

On Sunday (May 14) the action moves away from Hexham Abbey as the Forum Cinema and Queen's Hall are pressed into action. At three o'clock there is a rare screening of Ernest Lubitsch's 1921 film The Wild Cat. What's more, Graeme Wilson has bee commissioned to write a score for the occasion. Join Graeme, Paul Edis, bassist Paul Susans and drummer Steve Hanley for what promises to be an intriguing, one-off experience.

Queen's Hall hosts the closing event of the 2023 Hexham Jazz Festival. Guitarist Joe Steels leads his Borealis sextet comprising local lad (and superstar in the making), trumpeter Ferg Kilsby, vocalist Asha Nicholson, and the fine rhythm section of Dan Brown, piano, Paul Susans, bass and Berklee graduate drummer John Hirst. And to close, it's a real blockbuster with none other than Claire Martin and Jamie Safir in concert! Claire, get this for an endorsement - She ranks amongst the four or five finest female jazz vocalists on the planet  (Jazz Times) - will be on stage with pianist Jamie in what promises to be a memorable closing concert. 

Hexham Jazz Festival in partnership with Hampstead Jazz Club is presented in association with Hexham RotaryNorthumberland County Council and Hexham Town Council. Ticket options are available from the box office, see: www.queenshall.co.uk. Russell      

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