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Bebop Spoken There

Spasmo Brown: “Jazz is an ice cream sandwich! It's the Fourth of July! It's a girl with a waterbed!”. (Syncopated Times, July, 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

17421 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 695 of them this year alone and, so far, 100 this month (Sept. 30).

From This Moment On ...

October

Tue 08: ???

Wed 09: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. Wed 09: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:00-7:00pm. Free.
Wed 09: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 09: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 09: The Tannery Jam Session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. A ‘second Wednesday in the month’ jam session.
Wed 09: Shunya, Dudù Kouate & Seb Rochford @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 8:30pm (7:30pm doors). £21.00.

Thu 10: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 10: Gateshead Jazz Appreciation Society @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. ‘Collaborations - it happened all the time’.
Thu 10: Indigo Jazz Voices w. the Little Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.
Thu 10: Side Cafe Orkestar @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
The 10: Classic Swing @ Carlisle Rugby Club, Warwick Rd., Carlisle. 8:30pm. £9.
Thu 10: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesborough. 8:30pm. With guests Donna Hewitt (sax); Bill Watson (trumpet); Graham Thompson (keys); Ron Smith (bass). Free.

Fri 11: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 11: Dulcie May Moreno @ The Old Library, Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 11: The Jazz Quartet + Stratosphonic @ Tynedale Rugby Club, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £15.00. A Rotary Club of Hexham event. The Jazz Quartet (Jude Murphy & co), Stratosphonic (blues/rock). CANCELLED!
Fri 11: Joe Steels Trio @ The Pele, Market Place, Corbridge NE45 5AW. 7:30pm. Free.
Fri 11: Crooners @ Tyne Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm.
Fri 11: Mo Scott Band @ Blues Underground, Nelson St., Newcastle. 9:00pm. Free.

Sat 12: Milne-Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 12: Michael Woods @ Victoria Tunnel, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £12.00. (£10.00. adv.). Country blues guitar & vocals.
Sat 12: Nauta @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £13.28, £11.16, £9.04. A two-track recording launch gig.
Sat 12: Stuart Turner @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Rockabilly, rhythm & blues etc. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 12: Lapwing Jazz Trio @ The Ship Inn, Low Newton. 8:00pm. Free. New trio: Paula Whitty, Richard Herdman, Jude Murphy.

Sun 13: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: Emma Wilson @ Tyne Bar, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Blues.
Sun 13: Catfish Keith @ The Cluny. 7:00pm. Country blues.
Sun 13: Cath Stephens & Paul Grainger @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Stephens & Grainger, one third of a triple bill.
Sun 13: Dulcie May Moreno Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 14: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 14: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Hippodrome, Darlington. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman show inspired by Nina Simone, performed by Nicholle Cherrie.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law (piano), Paul Grainger (double bass), Bailey Rudd (drums).

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

Wednesday, March 06, 2024

The Black Swan jam session - March 5

It's a seven thirty start, roll up five minutes before the down beat and take your seat. Not any more! That was then, this is now! Since before the turn of the year some punters have been turning up earlier and earlier. This evening, fully three quarters of an hour before the advertised start, seats were being occupied at a rate of knots. At a little after seven o'clock seats were at a premium. What's going on?! 

Whatever is going on, it's a remarkably positive story. At the appointed time (7:30pm) the house trio - Joe Steels, Paul Grainger and off-the-bench sub Abbie Finn - got things underway. The packed house soon became a tad noisy, so much so MC Paul Grainger requested conversation be kept to a low(er) level rather than the near-bellowing emanating from some quarters. Alice Grace was in the house - hooray! Bye Bye Blackbird sang Alice. Too marvellous for words...

Tenor saxophonist Harry Keeble joined the fray, as did alto saxophonist Luis Verde. Absolutely top class playing from HK and LV, it was a privilege to hear them play. It had all the makings of a terrific night. It wasn't long before the Ruddicks were up and at it. Of late, young trumpeter Shivan Ruddick has been getting along to the Black Swan. In no time at all, it's plain to see - and hear - Shivan is developing in leaps and bounds. Paul Ruddick blew his usual Baghdaddian alto sax, again, terrific.

The Newcastle University posse circled the floor. First onto the stand, drummer Bailey Rudd, then guitarist Jacob Egglestone. Josh Weir would figure later. Bailey and Jacob shining on Four and Nature Boy. John Rowland blew old school tenor, Conor Emery blew some excellent, straight-down-the-middle trombone. 

Black Swan debutant vocalists included Cara (Blue Moon) and Jenny (You Turned the Tables on Me), Jess played some piano, all in a night's entertainment! Accompanied by the Newcastle Uni boys, Teessider Kate O'Niell sang Lullaby of Birdland, guitarist Jacob excelling. David Gray popped up, first on trumpet, later playing his main instrument, trombone. As the evening unfolded we heard from Edgar Bell (muted trumpet), Ian Drever foghorning A Foggy Day, Hannah singing Blue Skies. And then there was Becky Tuck, Liam Oliver, possibly others, it was a busy old night!

The Newcastle Uni boys were holding their own - the impressive Olly Styles (tenor sax), the assured Conor Emery and student friend Joe behind the traps. Trumpeter James Palmer, all the way from Somerset (on Tyneside for business reasons), enjoyed himself, the sitters-in gathering. Josh Weir, Freddie Richards, drummers both, Esther Coombes (reeds), so many of them, MC Grainger dubbing the massed finale Horns-a-Plenty. And central to it, one Niffi Osiyemi, vocalist extraordinaire (Darktown Strutters' Ball). 

The next Black Swan jam session is scheduled for Tuesday 19 March (house trio, Michael Young, Paul Grainger and Tim Johnston). It's a seven thirty start, arrive early or be prepared to stand all night! Russell

Joe Steels (guitar); Paul Grainger  (double bass); Abbie Finn (drums) + Alice Grace (vocals); Jess ? (piano); Harry Keeble (tenor sax); Luis Verde (alto sax); Bailey Rudd (drums); Shivan Ruddick (trumpet); Paul Ruddick (alto sax); Cara ? (vocals); Edgar Bell (trumpet); Jacob Egglestone (guitar); Conor Emery (trombone); John Rowland (tenor sax); Josh Weir (drums); David Gray (trumpet, trombone); Jenny ? (vocals); Kate O'Niell (vocals); Liam Oliver (guitar); Ian Drever (vocals); Hannah (vocals); Olly Styles (tenor sax); Joe ? (drums); James Palmer (trumpet); Dominic ? (trombone); Becky Tuck (vocals); Esther Coombes (alto sax, clarinet); Freddie Richards (drums); Niffi Osiyemi (vocals)         

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