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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

Tuesday, August 06, 2024

Album Review: Sweet Megg - Bluer Than Blue (Turtle Bay Records)

Sweet Megg /Meaghan Farrell (vocals); Billy Contreras (fiddle); Mike Davis (trumpet); Ricky Alexander (clarinet, saxophone); Sam Chess (trombone); Justin Poindexter (guitar); Chris Scruggs (lap steel, backing vocals); Dalton Ridenhour (piano); Dennis Crouch (bass); Chris Gelb (drums, backing vocals); Wild Bill (backing vocals); Timbo (vocals track 6); Ashley Campbell (vocals track 10)

This is the most recent album from Sweet Megg which is a lively collection of standards from both jazz and country, which explains the cowboy hat Megg is wearing on the album cover. The hat put me off but I needn't have worried as the album is such fun and suitable for your next party, despite the title. Mostly heartbreaking songs sung with swing and flair, plus an original by Megg herself and Justin Poindexter, Little Bit (a little bit of me just needs a little bit of you).

There was so much song information supplied that I could have cheated and reviewed without listening, but I'm glad I listened as Megg's voice has a bigwide range, delicious low notes on Kris Kristofferson's Once More With Feeling, through to the softer sweet intimacy of Ellington's In a Sentimental Mood. Then the band does a neat link into Leaving on Your Mind, which has the same tune to begin with as the previous song.

And that just about sums up the whole album, well integrated shortish songs with numerous skilled solos, too many to mention, each player gets his turn, even if it's just four bars. For instance, the title track opens with trumpet, our singer sounds as if she's having fun despite the sad lyrics, then comes solos from guitar and violin, with a distinct western swing feel.

An ensemble of the brass instruments gives a very New Orleans sound to Once More With Feeling. I Wonder Where You Are Tonight is sung with a sadder feeling, enhanced by contributions from lap steel, piano and fiddle. Honkytonk piano crops up on Someday Sweetheart and sax and violin play flirtatiously on Please Help Me I'm Falling, which matches the lyrics.

Our singer grew up in New York City and studied to be a singer/songwriter with an emphasis on jazz harmony. She later studied jazz in Paris then returned to the USA to become a professional jazz singer, toured with Postmodern Jukebox, was influenced by such people as Billie Holiday, Bessie Smith and also Patsy Cline, leading to an interest in country music. She moved to Nashville in 2021 where she teamed up with the musicians on this recording.

The album is available at turtlebayrecords.com and on all platforms. See www.sweetmegg.com. Ann Alex

BANDCAMP

Bluer Than Blue; Once More With Feeling; I Wonder Where You Are Tonight; San Antonio Rose; Someday Sweetheart; Please Help Me I'm Falling; Little Bit; In a Sentimental Mood; Leaving On Your Mind; It's All Over Now; Lonesome Hearted Blues; (Remember Me) I'm The One Who Loves You

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