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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.

Monday, May 08, 2023

Sunday Night @ the Globe: Andrea Vicari Trio - May 7

(© Ken Drew)
Andrea Vicari (piano/keys); Andy Champion (bass/bass guitar); Abbie Finn (drums) + Harry Keeble (tenor sax)

Last year this very same trio played a sold out gig just down the road at the Lit and Phil  so the portents were that they would draw a similar sized audience to the Globe. Alas, it was not to be.

So what went wrong?

Musically it couldn't be faulted. However, there were probably several contributing factors. The bank holiday weekend, Newcastle playing at home (which is always a deterrent for non football fans) and the decision by the Central Bar just across the Tyne Bridge to move its Monday night session to a Sunday afternoon.

Nevertheless, those of us who made the effort were amply rewarded with some of the best jazz piano heard at the venue since well, er, well since they last played an Oscar Peterson record.

Both women were at the top of their game and Champion whether on double bass or bass guitar does pretty good for a man.

The material was mainly original although a lush version of Body and Soul with some beautiful arco bass from Champion was one of the many standout numbers. Vicari's Get Busy was aptly named. It had lots of notes with Abbie contributing some New Orleans' style parade drumming.

Occasionally, Andrea would shuffle from the house Yamaha upright to her Nord keyboard and the scenario would become more contemporary. On Counting Moments, a brooding, melancholic piece, she played some esoteric sounds that contrasted nicely with her more straight ahead approach when at the electronic upright.

(© Ken Drew)
And, as if all this on its own wasn't enough, we had the added bonus of tenor saxophone contender Harry Keeble sitting-in for Rhythm-A-Ning, Footprints and Straight no Chaser.

During the afternoon Andrea had hosted a piano workshop which, hopefully will have helped spawn a few more jazz pianists aspiring to reach Ms Vicari's heights.

Next Sunday has JNE presenting a concert by Eternal Triangle featuring the legendary free form pioneer Trevor Watts with a support set by Andy Champion on solo bass. Again they will be fighting on two fronts with David  Gray's Flextet at the Central Bar and 20 miles west it's the Hexham Jazz Festival. Hopefully (jazz folk always live in hope) the three events will appeal to different sectors of the community. Lance

Set list included: Golden Gate; Get Busy; Counting Minutes; Body and Soul; Rhythm-A-Ning; Footprints; The Bells of Newchurch; Straight no Chaser

3 comments :

Anonymous said...

Sounds dreary. Thanks for the piece.

Lance said...

Dreary? Oh dear! You missed a treat Mr ?

Keith Barrett said...

Though thanked for, I’m not sure that Anonymous read the piece…. The gig was fabulous

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