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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.

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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