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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

Wednesday, August 21, 2024

Album review: Danny Jonokuchi Big Band - A Decade (Bandstand Records)

Back in the early days of the pandemic, Danny Jonokuchi was scheduled to play as a special guest with the Strictly Smokin' Big Band. Charts had been sent in advance and an exciting evening was anticipated. Of course Covid put the mockers on any American trumpet players crossing the Atlantic to play a gig in Newcastle. However, Danny did make contact via a video link and SSBB's opening number was Lionel Hampton's Red Top which is also on this album featuring Terell Stafford on trumpet and Jeb Patton on piano. 

Red Top is preceded by Kenny Barron's Voyage which gets things off to the swingingest of starts with Patton and Gould setting the benchmarks.

This Can't be Love has a vocal by Danny plus solos from Beshay on tenor and Jacovino on trombone. Like all the tracks on the album the charts are excellent. Demanding? Yes, but well worth the effort.

South Philly, an original by Danny reflects the diversity of that city, even the muggers go around in pairs (He was violently attacked in that city which had a traumatic effect on his embouchure). Solos by Wendholt and Gould. Another great arrangement with lots of screaming brass.

Skylark has our leader on flugel, his rich, round tone doing justice to Mercer and Carmichael's finest. Chris Lewis on tenor cleverly embellish's the melody. They reprise it on the final track - this time as a vocal feature.

There have been many fine arrangements of On Green Dolphin Street and this one is as good as any. Andrew Gutauskas on bari and Danny on trumpet fill the solo spots.

Ping Pong by Wayne Shorter features spiky solos by Beshay and Edwards but, again, that arrangement!

Tadd's Lady Bird brings Bruce Harris and Chris Oatts down front to solo on one of the most melodic compositions to come out of the bop era,

Like Someone in Love. When you need a ballad look no further than Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Burke. Over the years they delivered the goods for Bing and Frank and they do so hear giving the material to Danny who laid the table for Beshay and Wendholt, not to mention some well-coordinated playing by the sax section.

Finally the vocal version of Skylark. Lewis again solos on tenor and Danny swaps his flugel for the microphone delivering a smooth Bakerish vocal.

Simply tremendous! Lance

Danny Jonokuchi (trumpet, flugel, vocals, arranger, producer) + (collective) Terell Stafford*, Nick Marchione, John Lake, Scott Wendholt, Bruce Harris, Sam Hoyt**, James Zollar**, Noah Halpern** (trumpets); Robert Edwards, Sara Jacovino, Jason Jackson , Reginald Chapman (trombones); Andrew Gould, Chris Oatts, Christopher McBride** (alto saxes); Jon Beshay, Chris Lewis (tenor saxes); Andrew Gutauskas (baritone sax); Jeb Patton (piano); Samuel Harris (bass); Kevin Congleton (drums); Victor Pablo (perc.)
* Track 2 only. ** Tracks 1,3,6 only.

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