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Bebop Spoken There

Kurt Elling: ''There's something to learn from every musician you play with''. (DownBeat, December 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

17586 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 860 of them this year alone and, so far, 5 this month (Dec. 2).

From This Moment On ...

December

Wed 11: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Cath Stephens’ improvisation workshop @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 4:30-6:00pm. Collaborative group focusing on vocal improvisations.
Wed 11: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 11: The Tannery Jam Session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Second Wednesday in the month.
Wed 11: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 12: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Spanish City, Whitley Bay. 12 noon. £27.00. (inc. three -course meal).
Thu 12: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:00-6:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Thu 12: Stuart Turner @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 12: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesborough. 8:30pm. Free. Guests: Jeremy McMurray (keys); Mark Toomey (alto sax); Donna Hewitt (tenor sax); Kevin Eland (trumpet); Ron Smith (bass).

Fri 13: Dean Stockdale Trio @ Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 13: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Bellavana @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 3:00-5:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Joe Steels Trio @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Customs House Big Band @ Stocksfield Community Association. 7:00pm. Featuring Ruth Lambert.
Fri 13: Paul Edis & Friends: A Jazzy Xmas @ St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook. 7:30pm. £15.00.
Fri 13: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £19.00. + bf. First night of two.
Fri 13: Ransom Van @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 13: Boys of Brass @ Hoochie Coochie, Newcastle. 9:00pm. £10.00.

Sat 14: Jambone @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:15pm. Free but ticketed.
Sat 14: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm.
Sat 14: Red Kites Jazz @ Staiths Café, Autumn Dr., Gateshead. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 14 Lapwing Jazz Trio @ Three Sheets to the Wind, Alnwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 14: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £19.00. + bf. Second night of two.
Sat 14: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 15: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 12 noon. £8.50. Xmas party feat. Musicians Unlimited + Customs House Big Band. SOLD OUT!
Sun 15: Paul Edis & Friends: A Jazzy Xmas @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 2:00pm.
Sun 15: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Mitch Laddie Band @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Superb blues power trio.
Sun 15: Leeway @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 15: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Paul Edis & Friends: A Jazzy Xmas @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.
Sun 15: Alligator Gumbo @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 16: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 16: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Wheatsheaf, Benton Sq., Whitley Road, Palmersville NE12 9SU. Tel: 0191 266 8137. 12 noon. £9.95. ‘Festive Turkey Dinner’. Book now: 0191 266 8137.
Mon 16: Paul Edis & Friends: A Jazzy Xmas @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.

Tue 17: Paul Edis & Friends: A Jazzy Xmas @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.
Tue 17: BBC Big Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. ‘A Swinging Xmas’.
Tue 17: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.
Tue 17: Bellavana @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 7:45-9:35pm. Free.

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

Friday, November 03, 2023

Album Review: Michael Moore/John Pope/Johnny Hunter - Something Happened

Michael Moore (alto sax, clarinet); John Pope (double bass); Johnny Hunter (drums, percussion).

And so John Pope’s bid to officially become the ‘Hardest Working Man in Show Business’ acquires another piece of evidence. Hot upon the heels of the release of his group’s Citrinitas album here he is again, this time in a collaboration with saxophonist and clarinet player Michael Moore. Ever reliable drummer Johnny Hunter, also a member of Pope’s quintet, makes up the trio.

I’ll be honest, I was expecting something very abrasive from the off with this one, but, in fact it strikes a lovely balance in just being free enough to excite and restrained enough for the unsure amongst us not to lose our sense of security.

Providence is the classic case in point. It opens with a lovely, mellifluous sax from Moore before the rhythm section join in and start pulling it in different directions with Hunter’s rattling drums and a bass solo that sounds rooted in the earth. Having lured you in with Providence, A Simple Change is all about the trio listening to each other and reacting to what’s going on. It’s fractured in places and unified in others. Undulation takes us just that little further step out but First Half of May, an unexpected lullaby with soft clarinet over a mellow bass solo pulls us back. Anything Can Happen opens with a sax solo that suggests 'Round Midnight and that theme is hinted at several times during the tune, but there's upheaval going on below with rattling, rolling drums punching below a solid bass solo. To disconnect further Moore reaches into the higher register with his sax. It’s like the swan with all the activity below the waterline, but, having said that, Moore is happy enough at certain points to join in the excitement.

The big beast at the heart of the album is Some Moore/Middle of the Road, which title perfectly illustrates my so far out/so far in theory. The opening bars suggest Love for Sale but it breaks down into the three component parts. A metronomic bass line from Pope supports a strangled wail from Moore. It’s a very delicate, desolate piece with atmospheric bowed bass and thin cries from Moore which builds a tension and anticipation that remains unresolved. It fades away as if blown on the wind. It’s immersive and frustrating at the same time as if the joke is on us.

May-Ting is as predictable as they come if you expected a western hoedown to be mixed in with some deconstructed free jazz and an elegant be bop ballad over a bass and drum shuffle. If you saw that coming I’ll have Saturday’s lottery numbers off you with thanks. Half way though it becomes an exercise in different levels of languid. Moore is the most relaxed, playing elegant lines and, at the other end of the scale, Hunter is the most energetic. Pope seems to move between the two, at one moment relaxed in his accompanying Moore, at others falling in with Hunter’s energetic displays.

Closer, Bug Music, opens with a statement toot and a crash of cymbal that develops, after more languid  tenor playing from Moore, and a sudden stop/turn on a dime moment, into a rolling squall, full of sound and fury. Delicate moments follow between the outbreaks when regular rhythms are interposed. It demands the attention and, moment by moment, gives no hint at what will follow.

The whole album is lightning in a bottle, captured with great separation so that you can hear every note, every rattle and hum that’s played. Points to John Martindale (listed on the sleeve as responsible for recording, mixing and mastering the album) for that. I’m not sure yet, whether I like this more or less than Citrinitas but in any case it’s a joyous way to pass the time!

The album was released on October 20 and is available HERE on Bandcamp. Dave Sayer

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