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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

17487 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 761 of them this year alone and, so far, 66 this month (Oct. 30).

From This Moment On ...

November

Tue 05: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Victoria & Albert Inn, Seaton Delaval NE25 0AT. 12:30pm. £12.00. ‘Guy Fawkes Steak & Ale Pie & Pea Lunch’. To book tel: 0191 237 3697.
Tue 05: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:00pm. Free.
Tue 05: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Stu Collingwood, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 06: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 06: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 06: The Horne Section’s Hit Show @ Tyne Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm.
Wed 06: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 07: Jazz Appreciation North East/Gateshead Jazz Appreciation Society @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. ‘George - named musicians, vocalists & composers (Chisholm, Duke, Lewis, Shearing, Benson, Melly, Gershwin et al)’.
Thu 07: Aki Remally: The Gil Scott-Heron Songbook @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Remally (guitar, vocals); Fraser Urquhart (piano); Tom Wilkinson (bass); Max Popp (drums).
Thu 07: Rat Pack Live @ Whitley Bay Playhouse. 7:30pm.
Thu 07: Mo Scott @ The Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:30pm. Free.
Thu 07: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesborough. 8:30pm. Free. Guest band night with the new Pensacola Boulevard: Josh Bentham (trumpet!); Donna Hewitt (clarinet); Ron Smith (bass); Graham Thompson (keys); Mark Hawkins (drums); Django ZaZou (trombone); Vicky Jackson (vocals).

Fri 08: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 08: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 08: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 08: Joe Steels Trio @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm.
Fri 08: TC & the Groove Family + Swannek + Knats @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.

Sat 09: Moscow Drug Club @ Hamsterley Village Hall, Co. Durham DL13 3QF. 7:30pm. £15.00.
Sat 09: Anth Purdy @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. ‘Swing Jazz Guitar’. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 10: The New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free. A ‘second Sunday in the month’ residency.
Sun 10: Panharmonia @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £6.00.
Sun 10: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 10: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 10: Jude Murphy, Steve Chambers & Sid White @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 10: Moscow Drug Club @ Lesbury Village Hall, nr. Alnwick NE66 3PP. 7:30pm. £15.00.
Sun 10: SH#RP Collective @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Tue 12: Matthew Forster Quartet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.
Tue 12: Phil’s Elastic Band @ The Forum, Darlington. 7:30pm. Free, but ticketed, book online.

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

Thursday, October 05, 2023

Album review: Alex Riel - In New York

CD 1: Michael Brecker (tenor sax tks 1,3); Jerry Bergonzi (tenor sax tks 1,3,4,7,8,9); Mike Stern (guitar tks 2,5,6,7); Niels Lan Doky (piano tks 3.4.5.8); Eddie Gomez (bass); Alex Riel (drums).

CD 2: Michael Brecker (tenor sax tks 1,2); Jerry Bergonzi (tenor sax tks 1,2,3,4,7,8,9); Mike Stern (guitar tks 2,7,8); Kenny Werner (piano tks 1,2,3,4,7,8); Chris Minh Doky (bass); Alex Riel (drums).

A welcoming double CD reissue of two albums led by legendary Danish drummer Riel who is regarded by many as Denmark's most successful jazz musician next to NHØP.

Recorded in New York in 1997 and 1999, both discs have Brecker and Bergonzi at their explosive best - particularly when the two are in tandem. However, it isn't all blood and thunder as their take on Ben Webster's Did You Call Her Today? proves. They play more notes than Ben would have chosen to albeit without Webster's sumptuous sound.

Nevertheless, both players are at the top of their game and the tracks where they share centre stage the comparisions are interesting. Brecker perhaps the more freer, Bergonzi only slightly less outré, both of them extending the range of the instrument beyond Adolphe Sax's wildest dreams - maybe even Illinois Jacquet's! 

Bergonzi is more controlled on his own Committed, a truly exquisite ballad performance, just one of the seven originals he contributed.

Mike Stern offers contrast with some fine guitar solos plus an original and Werner and Doky do likewise with the latter combining with Riel for the final track.

There's an apocryphal saying that Brecker, when asked what it felt like too be the finest jazz saxophonist in the world, replied: "I don't know, ask Jerry Bergonzi".

Riel solos effectively and unaccompanied on In my Own "Sweets" Way.

Werner seduces the listener with a trio version of I Fall in Love Too Easily. Some nice bass too from Doky.

Overall, an exciting double album that goes to the edge but doesn't fall off. There's lots of sensitivity too. It's out on Stunt Records on October 20. Worth checking out. Lance 

CD 1: Gecko Plex; He's Dead Too; On Again Off Again; Amethyst; Bruze; Moment's Notice; Channeling; Invisible Light; Unriel.

CD 2: Did You Call Her Today?; Bessie's Blues; Committed; Dexterity;  In my Own "Sweets" Way; I Fall in Love Too Easily; The Bat; High Tops; Lille Empum

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