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Bebop Spoken There

Orrin Evans: “Now, getting a teaching spot is the new record deal”. (DownBeat, November, 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

17523 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 797 of them this year alone and, so far, 35 this month (Nov. 10).

From This Moment On ...

November

Sun 17: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 17: Liane Carroll: Jazz Vocal Weekend Workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 9:00am-5:00pm. £95.00. Day 2/2. SOLD OUT!
Sun 17: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Skerritt (solo) performing with backing tapes.
Sun 17: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 17: Liane Carroll @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Sun 17: Julian Lage @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. Lage, solo guitar.

Mon 18: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 18: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Wheatsheaf, Benton Sq., Whitley Road, Palmersville NE12 9SU. Tel: 0191 266 8137. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 19: Christine Tassan et Les Imposteures @ Bowes & Gilmonby Parish Hall, Co. Durham. 7:30pm. £14.00.; £7.00. child.
Tue 19: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Mark Robertson.
Tue 19: Jeremy McMurray & the Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Billingham Catholic Club. 7:30pm. £5.00. from 07757 062798 or at the door.

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: Christine Tassan et Les Imposteures @ Howick Village Hall, nr. Alnwick. 7:30pm. £12.00.; £6.00. child.
Wed 20: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 20: Hot Club of Heaton @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘third Wednesday in the month’ session.

Thu 21: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. ‘Autumn into Winter Titles (music & songs that go with the change of the seasons)’.
Thu 21: Down for the Count Swing Orchestra @ Newcastle Cathedral. 7:30pm. £25.00., £20.00., £14.00. ‘Swing Into Xmas with the Down for the Count Swing Orchestra’.
Thu 21: Pete Tanton & the Cuban Heels @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 21: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesborough. 8:30pm. Free. Guests: Neil Brodie (trumpet); Donna Hewitt (sax); Josh Bentham (sax); Garry Hadfield (keys); Ron Smith (bass); Mark Hawkins (drums).

Fri 22: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The White Swan, Ovingham. 12:30-3:30pm. £15.00. Line-up: Chris Perrin (clarinet, tenor sax); Phil Rutherford (sousaphone); David Gray (trombone, trumpet, vocals); Brian Bennett (banjo). To book a table tel: 01661 833188.
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: East Coast Swing Band @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:30pm.
Fri 22: Dilutey Juice @ Independent, Sunderland. 7:30pm. £10.00. + £1.00. bf.
Fri 22: Archipelago @ Poprecs, High St. West, Sunderland. 7:00pm. £10.00. Multi-bill, Archipelago on stage 8:00pm. A Boundaries Festival event.
Fri 22: Groovetrain @ Hoochie Coochie, Newcastle. £15.00. + bf. 8:45pm (7:30pm doors).

Sat 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Spanish City, Whitley Bay. 11:00-1:00pm. £6.00. at the door, £4.00. advance. Tel: 0191 691 7090. A Spanish City ‘Xmas Market’ event in the Champagne Bar.
Sat 23: Washboard Resonators @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm. £12.00.
Sat 23: Paul Skerritt Big Band @ Westovian Theatre, South Shields. 7:30pm.

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

Saturday, May 20, 2023

UK Guitarist To Release Soaring Suite Of Powerful And Distinctly Lyrical Music.

(Press release) Guitarist Steve Banks and Stoney Lane Records are proud to present the international release of the brand new album Emboldened in May 2023. Emboldened is a unique collection of Steve Banks’ original compositions, taking in powerful modern jazz, deep contemporary grooves, Brazilian influences, lush harmonies and memorable melodies. This heady concoction of styles evolved and developed through years of diverse musical experience, resulting in a compelling, distinctive and personal sound, immediately recognisable as the rising star guitarist’s own work.

On Emboldened, Banks brings together  a quintet of musicians at the forefront of UK jazz scene: Sam Crockatt on saxophone, Rebecca Nash on keyboard, Henrik Jensen on bass and Mark Whitlam  on drums. The synergy between each player is palpable on the recording and provides a clear demonstration of the professionalism and vibrancy of each player, both individually and as a unit. Speaking about the band, Steve Banks remarks: “I’m excited by the scope and depth of expression this quintet is capable of reaching and am composing new music to explore this further. I want to ‘stoke the fire’”

 

Banks explains that he wrote the Emboldened suite “to reflect individuals and society's response to adversity….This also reflected values inherent to jazz music including respect, trust, listening and support and, as a jazz musician, I wanted to offer a positive and reassuring experience for the peaceful majority. The suite comprises three movements: Fear, Belief & Unity and is also inspired by the incredible music of Maria Schneider.

 

Banks’ captivating style and versatility have made him a ‘go to’ guitarist for many successful music projects, most notably playing electric, acoustic, baritone and nylon string guitars on Sara Colman’s album ‘What We’re Made Of’, co-composing several tracks and contributing his own composition ‘Open’. The album appeared in Jazzwise Magazine’s ‘Top 10 albums of 2018’ and ‘Best of Jazz on Bandcamp’ lists.. Further projects include being a vital element of the Greg Cordez Band and a 2021 UK tour with ‘What She Said’, celebrating pioneering women in music. Having lent his elite skill to a range of artistic endeavours, Steve Banks will now release his debut album Emboldened, representing his very best work to date and an anticipated elevation to the limelight.

 

Steve Banks has performed at venues across the UK including Birmingham Symphony Hall, CBSO Centre, London’s King’s Place, Mostly Jazz, Manchester Jazz and Cheltenham Jazz Festivals and Jazzahead! in Germany. The upcoming tour will include performances of the Emboldened suite alongside brand new music. Steve will also be mentoring four young Ukrainian and British musicians over the next few months to compose on the themes of Emboldened (Fear, Belief and Unity). The upcoming concert at St George's Bristol in July will also feature premier performances of these compositions by the young musicians. Emboldened is an enthralling album, destined to become one of this years’ most important releases to date.

Catalogue No: SLR1981

 

Recorded At Samson Studios, Birmingham, UK.

 

Mixed By Olly Samson At Samson Studios, Birmingham, UK.

 

Mastered By Peter Beckman At TechnologyWorks, London UK.

 

Artwork By: Enric Alberti https://www.instagram.com/enricalbertiart/ https://www.saatchiart.com/enricalberti

 

Photography by Hacker Photography / Recording Session Photography By Chris Lucas.

 

TOUR DATES:

 

14th June            The Vortex                London

27th June            The Spotted Dog      Birmingham

29th June            Spin Jazz                     Oxford

1st July                St George’s                Bristol

 

QUOTES:

 

‘Purposeful precision and smart invention . . . tightly written, long unfolding melodic structures weaving the musicians into braided soundscapes . . . deserving of a much wider audience’ - Jazzwise (2022)

 

“Steve Banks brings a crisp lyricism that mimics Colman’s flight patterns then deviates in fascinating directions” -  BANDCAMP

 

“A remarkable guitarist” – Fringe Jazz       “Skilled, flowing guitar” – Bebop Spoken Here

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