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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

Sat 21: Lindsay Hannon Quartet @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £15.00. ‘Swinging with Christmas Songs’.
Sat 21: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 21: Jackson’s Wharf Xmas Party @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 7:00pm. Free. Featuring the New ’58 Jazz Collective.
Sat 21: Brass Fiesta @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 10:30pm. Free.

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. TBC.
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.

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, April 17, 2024

Another jam packed Black Swan jam session - April 16

It starts at seven thirty, doors at seven, it's going to be busy, let's get there for half past six. Turning into Newcastle Arts Centre's courtyard the queue was beginning to form. One whole hour before the down beat, what's going on? The Black Swan jam session is what you could call a success! 

This evening's house trio comprised guitar virtuoso Mr Bradley Johnston, jam session MC, Mr Paul Grainger and post-grad student drummer, Mr Bailey Rudd. Three numbers to set the ball rolling - Bird's Little Suede Shoes, Johnny Green's Body and Soul and Frank Loesser's I've Never Been in Love Before. Nicely warmed up, MC Grainger opened the floor. First up, Jan Spencelayh. Accompanied by John Rowland's tenor sax, Jan sang a classic - You Turned the Tables on Me. Excellent. 

Kris Finney had been absent for a while. Good to see him put in an appearance and, as ever, make a solid contribution behind the traps. Alex Shipsey is another welcome face at the jam session. Whatever the tune, Alex is on it. Trumpeter Stuart Fowler was in the house, minus his horn. But wait, taking a seat at the house keyboard, Stuart proved to be more than canny. Becky Tuck sang 'S Wonderful, accompanied by one S. Fowler at the piano. The wonders of a jam session! Guitarist Liam Oliver and drummer Freddie Richards were knocking around, they made their mark, likewise the dependable Owen Jones. MC P. Grainger likes it when not one, not two, but three bass players turn up! Remi Coulthard-Boardman sang (falsetto to boot) Moondance with Esther Coombes on board playing alto sax (later clarinet). 

Now then, sometimes at a jam session, just occasionally, something happens. Something wonderful, that is. Newcastle University students Conor Emery (trombone) and Olly Styles (tenor sax) formed a frontline supported by Stuart (keyboards), Bradley (guitar), Jamie Watkins (bass) and, wait for it, drummer John Hirst. Oh, yes! Conor and Olly set about tearing it up on Manteca. In their late teens/early twenties*, this was, as they say, 'something else'. Absolutely barnstorming stuff! And, there's more, John Hirst's drum solo would have brought the house down at Ronnie's. Stupendous!                  

As if that wasn't enough, Paul Skerritt**, enjoying a night out, led the finale. All hands on deck for It Don't Mean a Thing and a showstopping Let the Good Times Roll

In some quarters you'll hear comments along the lines of 'in my day..', 'jazz isn't what it used to be...' etc. Well, the 'in my day' types should go hear Conor Emery and Olly Styles (and hundreds of other young musicians throughout the country) and they'll have their eyes and ears opened.

** A week on Friday (April 26) Paul Skerritt will be in concert in Hall Two at the Glasshouse (formerly Sage Gateshead). Paul's 'backing band' (!) will be the fantastic Danny Miller Big Band. Seats have been selling really well, don't delay, book today at: www.theglasshouseicm.org. Russell    

Bradley Johnston (guitar); Paul Grainger (double bass); Bailey Rudd  (drums) + Jan Spencelayh (vocals); John Rowland (tenor sax); Kris Finney (drums); Conor Emery (trombone); Olly Styles (tenor sax); Alex Shipsey (bass guitar); Kate O'Niell (vocals); Edgar Bell (trumpet); Stuart Fowler (piano); Becky Tuck (vocals); Esther Coombes (alto sax, clarinet); Freddie Richards (drums); Ian Drever (vocals); Liam Oliver (guitar); Remi Coulthard-Boardman (vocals); Owen Jones (double bass); Jacob Egglestone (guitar); Jamie Watkins (bass guitar); Josh Weir (drums); Alec Gamble (guitar); Johannes Dalhuijsen (bass clarinet); ? (piano); ? (vocals); John Hirst (drums); Paul Skerritt (vocals)

2 comments :

NeilC said...

Is it simply that the gig has outgrown the capacity of the current venue and it's time for somewhere larger to accommodate the demand?

Lance said...

There is also the downstairs room which is bigger yet not utilised for the jams.

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