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Bebop Spoken There

Tineke Postma: “ I had a huge crush on him [Sting] when I was a teenager ". Jazzwise, June 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

16497 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 377 of them this year alone and, so far, 89 this month (May 30).

From This Moment On ...

June

Mon 03: John Garner & John Pope @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Mon 03: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 04: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Ben Phillips, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 05: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 05: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 05: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 06: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 06 Gateshead Jazz Appreciation Society @ Gateshead Central Library, Gateshead. 2:30pm. £4.00.
Thu 06: NikNak + Fergus Quill Trio @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £15.00., £7.00.
Thu 06: Tyne Valley Big Band @ The Market Place, Hexham. 8:00-9:00pm. Free.
Thu 06: Funky Drummer @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 06: Crooners Uncaged @ The Forum, Billingham. 7:30pm.
Thu 06: John Rowland Quartet @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Thu 06: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. CANCELLED!

Fri 07: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 07: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 07: Jalen Ngonda @ Newcastle University Students’ Union. 7:00pm (doors). SOLD OUT!
Fri 07: Daniel John Martin & Guests @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Fri 07: House of the Black Gardenia @ Hoochie Coochie, Newcastle. 8:30pm. Free.

Sat 08: Jason Isaacs & His Mini Big Band @ Tyne Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £23.50.
Sat 08: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. £20.50 (inc. bf). ‘Ella & Ellington’.
Sat 08: Tom Remon & Laurence Harrison @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 09: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm.
Sun 09: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: King Bees @ Hadrian Border Brewery, Newburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Tickets from Eventbrite. Hadrian Border’s 30th Birthday Beer Festival (Fri 7-Sun 9 inc.). Superb blues band!
Sun 09: Patrick Cromb @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. ‘The Best Crooner in Town!’. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 09: Hot Club du Nord @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.
Sun 09: Jamie Toms Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Thursday, June 29, 2023

R.I.P. Tommy Graham

Gordon Solomon sent me the following sad news: 'Tommy Graham passed away today. Tommy was not only a really swinging drummer but also a lovely gentle man. I’m sure he’ll be sadly missed on the north east music scene. Condolences to Natalie.'

I can only echo those sentiments.

Tommy's father, Johnny Graham, was an excellent drummer and very much an extrovert. Tommy inherited the former if not the latter trait.

As Gordon says, he was a lovely gentle man.

On the jazz scene he was part of, among others, the Maine Street Jazzmen, played with the Vieux Carré Jazzmen and, latterly, with Classic Swing and the River City. His solo on Caravan invariably brought the house down.

Over the years he was part of an organ and drum duo with Tommy Moran and they held down residencies at various night clubs and CIU clubs throughout the region.

He was totally unflappable. I recall an occasion at Rosie's in South Shields where the Maine Street Jazzmen had a weekly residency and I mentioned that Eric Delaney had just walked in. Didn't phase him at all. I suspect the reaction would have be the same if Buddy Rich and Louis Bellson had joined the party! 

Funeral arrangements will be posted when known.

Very sadly missed. Lance

7 comments :

Sylvia said...

I knew Tommy from his work with Classic Swing at Cullercoats Crescent club…he was always full of fun and I will remember him every time I hear Caravan…lovely man…

Jim Fay (on F/b) said...

Apart from his drumming skills, he was a really likeable person. RIP Tommy

Mia Webb (on F/b) said...

Such sad news. I worked with Tommy for a great number of years with the Tommy Moran Quartet. Always smiling and a great sense of humour. He will be missed by all who knew and worked with him. Condolences to his family. R.I.P. my friend xxx

Russell said...

Tommy would always nod and say 'hello'. A genuinely nice man.

Jeremy McMurray (on F/b) said...

Tommy was a lovely guy and a fine drummer, he had a who wonderful sense of humour and was always a pleasure to work with. He will be missed. RIP Tommy.

John Hudson (on F/b) said...

Another fine musician leaves us. Worked with Tommy on a few gigs....powerful drummer and really nice guy.....'bye Tommy.....R.I.P.

Tommy Moran said...

Tommy Graham was not just a great friend to me, he was also like the brother I never had!

Not only was he a great drummer who I worked with for 50 years, but he was a lovely guy, and was regarded as part of the family by our family members.

We are absolutely devastated at his loss, as we all loved him very much, and will miss him terribly.

RIP Tommy, my friend.

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