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Bebop Spoken There

Branford Marsalis: "As ignorance often forces us to do, you make a generalisation about a musician based on one specific record or one moment in time." - (Jazzwise June 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

15491 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 512 of them this year alone and, so far, 133 this month (May 31).

From This Moment On ...

Tue 06: Paul Skerritt @ The Rabbit Hole, Hallgarth St., Durham DH1 3AT. 7:00pm. Paul Skerritt's (solo) weekly residency.
Tue 06: Jam session @ Black Swan, Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. House trio: Stu Collingwood (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Sid White (drums).

Wed 07: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 07: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 07: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:00pm.
Wed 07: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thu 08: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free. CANCELLED! BACK ON JUNE 15.
Thu 08: Easington Colliery Brass Band @ The Lubetkin Theatre, Peterlee. 7:00pm. £10.00.
Thu 08: Faye MacCalman + Blue Dust Archive @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Thu 08: Dilutey Juice + Ceramic @ The Ampitheatre, Sea Road, South Shields. 7:00pm. Free. A South Tyneside Festival event.
Thu 08: Lara Jones w. Vigilance State @ Lubber Fiend, Blandford Square, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Thu 08: Michael Littlefield @ the Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Country blues.
Thu 08: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Fri 09: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 09: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.
Fri 09: Castillo Nuevo @ Revolución de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30-8:30pm.
Fri 09: Emma Rawicz @ Sage Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 10: Miners' Picnic @ Woodhorn, Ashington. Music inc. Northern Monkey Brass Band (3:00-3:50pm); New York Brass Band (4:00-4:55pm).
Sat 10: Front Porch Three @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Americana, blues, jazz etc.
Sat 10: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.

Sun 11: WORKSHOP: Tim Richards' Jazz Piano Workshop @ JG Windows, Newcastle. Time TBC. Further details tel. 0191 232 1356.
Sun 11: Jeremy McMurray's Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Ropner Park, Stockton TS18 4EF. 2:00-4:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 11: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 3:00pm.
Sun 11: Groovetrain @ Innisfree Sports & Social Club, Longbenton NE12 8TY. Doors 6:30pm. £15.00 (£7.00. under 16).
Sun 11: Jeffrey Hewer Collective @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 12: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.

Sunday, May 21, 2023

The Windy City Weatherbirds @ The Vault, Hexham - May 19

Magnus Pickering (cornet, vocals); Joe Pickering (reeds); Daniel Pickering (trombone); Harrison Dolphin (guitar); Paul Grainger (double bass); Robbie Ellison (drums)

Earlier in the day the Windy City Weatherbirds made their north of England debut at a sold out lunchtime concert at the Lit & Phil in Newcastle. This evening the London based six piece band ventured up the Tyne Valley to play a second engagement of a three-date 'up north' tour. The Vault in Hexham, an ancient cellar venue on Hallgate, attracted a select audience keen to listen to some Dixieland jazz from the best part of a century ago. 

The three frontline horns - Magnus (cornet), Joe (reeds) and Daniel (trombone) just happen to be brothers, that's the Pickering brothers. Harrison Dolphin plays guitar, Robbie Ellison plays drums and, all the way from Tyneside, short notice dep bassist, the one-and-only Paul Grainger.   

Mine Host, Ben, offers table service here in Hexham, essentially out of necessity as the place can be too crowded to facilitate a lengthy queue at the bar. Close proximity to others encourages conversation and this evening our table of four chatted amiably before and after the first set.

I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate opened the show and, judging by the reaction, the 'select' liked it! If I Had YouAt the Jazz Band Ball, as earlier in the day in Newcastle, the Windy City Weatherbirds dipped in to the 'classic jazz' era songbook, each and every one a winner. Hoagy's New Orleans, the musicians occupying every square centimetre of the stage, clearly enjoying themselves, signed off on their first set with a rousing Darktown Strutters' Ball.

Band leader Magnus leads from the front, bold cornet playing allied to heart-felt, engaging vocals, the Weatherbirds kicked-off their second set with a rousing Riverboat Shuffle. Victor Young's Sweet Sue - Just You (lyrics WJ Harris) featured more of Magnus the singer and a knockout tenor solo from brother Joe. Fleet-of-finger cornet work on 'S Wonderful gave an indication as to why Magnus is in demand on the London jazz scene - great stuff! Some like it hot, they were in luck with a scorching That's A-Plenty generating sustained applause. 

The Windy City Weatherbirds made a big impression here in the Northumberland market town, what's more, the band loved the place. There is every chance of a return visit in the not-too-distant future. The Vault is one of Hexham's little-known cultural gems. Check it out. Russell

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