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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

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: 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.

Sun 29: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 29: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

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

Saturday, July 20, 2024

Luis Verde @ Opus 4 Jazz Club - July 19

© Trevor Finn
Luis Verde (alto sax); Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Abbie Finn (drums) + Harry Keeble (tenor sax)

Earlier in the day up the road in Newcastle, alto saxophonist Luis Verde wowed a full house at the Lit and Phil. Here at the Traveller's Rest in Cockerton, Darlington, the upstairs room on West Auckland Road filled up nicely, the majority of those taking their seats would be hearing the Tyneside based Spaniard for the first time. Looking around the room, Señor Verde pronounced himself happy with his surroundings, not least the portraits of some of the jazz greats adorning the walls.

Luis Verde's Newcastle concert featured numbers written by Wayne Shorter. This Darlington engagement would adopt a similar theme. Opening with One by One, the 'jaw-dropping awe' witnessed at the Lit and Phil was evident here at Opus 4. Scarcely believable paint-stripping alto sax and superb contributions from the rhythm section ('rhythm section' does these guys a disservice!) comprising pianist Dean Stockdale, bassist Mick Shoulder and drummer Abbie Finn, made for a breathless start.

Across the course of two sets the quartet (the evening was much more than 'frontman plus rhythm section') played a blinder. Wayne Shorter plus one or two original compositions made for a fabulous evening. Laying down impossibly good solos, from time to time Verde would stand to one side (on this warm summer's evening standing by an open window), enabling the 'trio' to swing like nobody's business. Listening to Dean, Mick and Abbie as a trio was worth every penny of the admission money - and to think Luis was the main attraction!

Infant EyesPrince of Darkness (Wayne Shorter's composition from Miles Davis' Sorcerer album), Luis and co were on top form. Opus 4 Jazz Club's regulars liked what they were hearing. And as if it couldn't get any better, Luis invited tenor saxophonist Harry Keeble to join the party. Luis saying, almost as an aside: I like playing with him [Harry Keeble]. Luis and Harry tore into Yes or No. Wow! The horns going for it, the rhythm section cookin', this was Opus 4 Jazz Club (at heart a 'modern jazz club') at its very, very best! Russell          

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