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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

17630 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 904 of them this year alone and, so far, 49 this month (Dec. 20).

From This Moment On ...

December

Sun 22: Hot Club du Nord @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £15.00. + bf. Xmas party. SOLD OUT!
Sun 22: Red Kites Jazz @ Gibside Chapel, nr. Rowlands Gill. 1:00pm. Admission charge applies.
Sun 22: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 22: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: Revolutionaires @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Superb rhythm & blues outfit.
Sun 22: Laurence Harrison, Paul Grainger & Mark Robertson @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Line-up TBC.
Sun 22: The Globe Xmas Party @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Live music (musicians TBC).
Sun 22: Ray Stubbs R & B All-Stars @ Zerox, Sandhill, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors).

Mon 23: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Wheatsheaf, Benton Sq., Whitley Road, Palmersville NE12 9SU. Tel: 0191 266 8137. 1:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Mon 23: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 4:00pm. Free.
Mon 23: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Mon 23: Milne-Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.

Tue 24: Lindsay Hannon & Mark Williams @ Ernest, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 11:00am-1:00pm. Free.
Tue 24: Paul Skerritt @ Mambo Wine & Dine, South Shields. 1:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.

Wed 25: Wot? No jazz!

Thu 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free. TBC.
Thu 26: The Boneshakers @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. The 17th annual Boneshakers’ Shindig.

Fri 27: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free. Business as usual!.
Fri 27: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 27: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

Sat 28: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 11:30am. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 28: Fri 20: Castillo Nuevo @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Sat 28: Jude Murphy, Rich Herdman & Giles Strong @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 28: Ray Stubbs R & B All-Stars @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Stepney Bank, Newcastle. 9:00pm. 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

Monday, March 25, 2024

Luis Verde @ Queen's Hall, Hexham - March 24

Luis Verde (alto sax); Joe Steels (guitar); John Pope (double bass); John Hirst (drums)

Luis Verde has become a familiar figure at Newcastle Arts Centre's twice monthly Black Swan jam session. Last week alto saxophonist Verde made his long-awaited regional concert debut. That was at the Globe in Newcastle, this afternoon Verde was the guest of Jazz at Queen's Hall. A few miles west of Newcastle, Hexham's jazz fans turned out in force to hear for themselves what all the fuss was about. Would they be impressed? 

Joining Verde in the library within Queen's Hall were guitarist Joe Steels, bassist John Pope and drummer John Hirst. JP was on Verde's gig last week at which it was apparent there was a musical rapport. Steels had heard what Verde could do at the aforementioned Black Swan, for John Hirst this was to be a new experience. 

The set list for Luis Verde's debut Newcastle performance comprised numbers by Thelonious Monk and a raft of original compositions, here at Queen's Hall it would be original material all the way (Steels and Pope contributing compositions of their own). Alto sax playing of the highest standard, would Messrs Steels, Pope and Hirst be able to keep up? Were they on the same wavelength? Soweto Kinch has long-since engaged an audience, it would appear Luis Verde is winning an audience right here in the north east of England. Dynamic, propulsive, wholly convincing, Luis Verde is, as they say, 'the real deal'! The applause here in Queen's Hall suggested more than a few 'got' what he was doing. 

Verde's Infinita and Pope's A Processions of Heads hit the heights, as did the entire set. Their facility, indeed their understanding of Verde's music and his approach to music-making, is credit to Steels, Pope and Hirst, this was some performance, individually and collectively. Luis Verde's next scheduled concert appearance is on Friday 19 July at the Lit and Phil in Newcastle. The word is, very few seats remain available. To secure your seat for a one o'clock start, call the Lit & Phil now on 0191 232 0192. Russell         

1 comment :

Chris Kilsby said...

This was quite a remarkable session : I couldn't really get my head round this happening >in Hexham<, not some concert hall or jazz club in a major European city of culture. From Luis' workouts on standards at the Black Swan I knew he could blow, but this showed what he does when he gets to choose/write on a more progressive canvas. Talk about hitting the heights, Luis' playing defied gravity and headed into space, with the band cutting loose alongside. If his talented crew of like-minded cosmonauts can fly like this after one rehearsal, I'm looking forward to seeing what comes next - bring it on!

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