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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

Sunday, March 24, 2024

New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ Gosforth Civic Theatre - Mar. 23

Steve Andrews (MC, baritone sax, clarinet); Martin Litton (piano); Ed Cross (violin); Alistair Lord (trumpet, cornet); Dave Hignett (trumpet); Neville Hartley (trombone); Jim McBriarty (reeds, vocals); Alan Marshall (reeds); Gavin Lee (reeds); Keith Stephen (guitar, banjo); Phil Rutherford (tuba); Paul Smith (drums); Caroline Irwin (vocals) + Olivia (xylophone); Benjamin (alto sax)

The New Century Ragtime Orchestra is an occasional happening. Two or three performances a year constitutes a busy schedule. As and when the NCRO takes to the stage it pays to be there. This evening at Gosforth Civic Theatre the NCRO played to a full house and no one but no one left disappointed. GCT is a well appointed venue, in some ways an exemplar - level floor throughout, accessible to all and, from the musician's view point, there is a half-decent Yamaha upright piano on the premises. 

Occupying the piano stool this evening, all the way from Hay-on-Wye, master musician Martin Litton. A long-time friend of the NCRO, Litton arrived earlier in the day, later meeting up with Dave Kerr, Phil Rutherford and the rest of the band to run through one or two charts. MC Steve Andrews would guide the audience through the evening's programme with a string of witty observations/asides along the way. 

My Baby Just Cares for Me opened the show, The Ragtime Dance (as arranged by D. Kerr) followed, and onto Doin' the Frog. NCRO supporters old and new loved what they were hearing, quite simply, the band was on form. The presence of pianist Martin Litton added an extra touch of class, the horns were at the top of their game and the rhythm section - stalwart tuba maestro Phil Rutherford, Keith Stephen, switching between guitar and banjo, and pocket dynamo Paul Smith nailing the drum parts - gave a sterling (if partly hidden behind the frontline's gleaming brass) display. 

As the NCRO vacated the stage, pianist Martin Litton played a medley of tunes, the audience mesmerised by the elegance and dexterity on show. Digga Digga Doo, In a Mist...A-grade stuff. Stomp Your StuffShakin' the Blues Away, vocalists Caroline Irwin and Jim McBriarty jousting on After You've Gone (all good fun), Litton's take on Fats Waller's Clothes Line Ballet, the variety on offer helped engage the audience throughout two full sets. Highlights were many, however, to single out one...Dave Hignett (trumpet) and Neville Hartley (trombone) playing Ain't Misbehavin' took the gold medal. 

Young musicians Olivia and Benjamin did themselves proud standing out front, showing few, if any, signs of nerves. Olivia, xylophone, playing beautifully on Whistling Rag and Benjamin playing alto sax on Autumn Leaves (Caroline Irwin singing). The New Century signed off in some style with Business in F (it was the business!), Marbles (arr. K. Nichols) and Goodbye Blues Russell       

1 comment :

Anonymous said...

A brilliant performance by the NCRO in a hall which offered the musicians a chance to shine. They didn't disappoint. Thank you David for bringing this orchestra to Gosforth. To see and hear such wonderful musicians made it an evening to remember. To cap it all, Caroline's version of J'ai Deaux Amours was something special. Please return soon.

George Watt

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