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Bebop Spoken There

Orrin Evans: “Now, getting a teaching spot is the new record deal”. (DownBeat, November, 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

17502 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 776 of them this year alone and, so far, 14 this month (Nov. 5).

From This Moment On ...

November

Fri 08: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 08: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 08: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 08: Joe Steels Trio @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm.
Fri 08: TC & the Groove Family + Swannek + Knats @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.

Sat 09: Moscow Drug Club @ Hamsterley Village Hall, Co. Durham DL13 3QF. 7:30pm. £15.00.
Sat 09: Anth Purdy @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. ‘Swing Jazz Guitar’. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 10: The New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free. A ‘second Sunday in the month’ residency.
Sun 10: Panharmonia @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £6.00.
Sun 10: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 10: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 10: Jude Murphy, Steve Chambers & Sid White @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 10: Moscow Drug Club @ Lesbury Village Hall, nr. Alnwick NE66 3PP. 7:30pm. £15.00.
Sun 10: SH#RP Collective @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 11: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 11: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Wheatsheaf, Benton Sq., Whitley Road, Palmersville NE12 9SU. Tel: 0191 266 8137. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 11: Graham Hardy’s Eclectic Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 12: Matthew Forster Quartet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.
Tue 12: Phil’s Elastic Band @ The Forum, Darlington. 7:30pm. Free, but ticketed, book online.

Wed 13: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 13: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 13: The Tannery Jam Session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. A ‘second Wednesday in the month’ jam session.
Wed 13: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 13: corto.alto @ Hoochie Coochie, Newcastle. 7:45pm (doors 7:00pm). £14.00. + bf.

Thu 14: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 14: Faye MacCalman & John Pope @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 14: Student Performances @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 4:00pm. Inc. Olly Styles (saxophone).
Thu 14: Happy Tuesdays @ Ye Olde Cross, Ryton. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 14: John Stowell & Tom Remon @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Top class US/UK guitar duo!
Thu 14: King Bees @ The Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Superb Chicago blues band. Note, Struggle Buggy will no longer be appearing.
Thu 14: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesborough. 8:30pm. Free. Guests: Jeremy McMurray (keys); Kevin Eland (trumpet); Mark Toomey (alto sax); Adrian Beadnell (bass).

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, October 29, 2024

Album review: Oscar Peterson Quartet - City Lights (Mack Avenue)

Oscar Peterson (piano); Lorne Lofsky (guitar): Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen (bass); Martin Drew (drums)

Recorded in 1994, just 14 months after Oscar Peterson's debilitating stroke, the great Canadian pianist's determination and urge to play shines through on this live recording from the Müncher Philharmonie in Germany. Oscar was on a mission to prove that, despite his misfortune, he was still a force to be reckoned with - and he was.

True he couldn't do things with his left hand that he once did but he was still a formidable performer. With NHØP on bass, Martin Drew on drums and Lorne Lofsky on guitar, this was a unit comparable with any of his previous bands. Maybe even better as the once, sometimes over-flamboyant, technique was by necessity reigned in. As the saying goes, it's an ill-wind...

There Will Never be Another You opens with a round of applause as Drew sets the tempo with some crisp brushwork. More applause as NHØP adds a bassline, the applause continues as Lofsky gives an indication of what's to follow. Next time the  volume of applause is greater than the combined applause awarded the other three. Peterson sits on the stool of the Bosendorfer grand, his favoured piano of many years, and we're off to the races. I can imagine a first-time listener saying "are you sure he's had stroke?" A good question as he still sounds as wonderful as ever.  

The Gentle Waltz is just that, a dreamy original. His right hand at its most dextrous, bass, drums and guitar providing left hand cover. Lofsky solos delightfully, followed by NHØP, at that time the greatest jazz double bassist in the world.

Kelly's Blues, another original - well as original as any blues number can be - has all four digging deep into their twelve bar bag. This is some of the hottest blues playing since Peterson's Blues Etude from way back in 1966. Listen to those rolling piano chords.

Love Ballads, as the title implies simply oozes romance. I don't know if they are new or old to him but they reveal, I guess, Peterson's innermost emotions shared here with the audience and his band. I suspect there wasn't a dry eye in the house. There certainly wasn't in my place.

City Lights, another one in 3/4. Peterson has, over the years, shown an affinity for waltzes. In particular, I remember Waltzing is Hip from the series of albums he recorded in the Black Forest. This one is in that league.

You Look Good to me, sounds good to me. It's a number he has recorded and played live many times. NHØP is amazing on this track. There's various versions on YouTube. It drew the most applause so far.

Samba Petite, composed by NHØP has a long, meandering solo by the bassist before he gradually moves towards samba territory without quite reaching it. He's totally unaccompanied. A tour-de-force of bass playing.

Satin Doll: Lofsky wails, as does Oscar, his quote from Things Ain't What They Used to be maybe a personal reference but nevertheless, even with one hand he sounds like the whole Ellington Band and how the audience responded!

Nightime suggests just that but not in the big city, rather in a quiet village in rural  green pastures - at least at first but not for long. The tension builds and soon they're all firing on eight. Will Martin Drew get a solo? So far he's the only one who hasn't although his contribution down in the engine room has been spot on. No, he doesn't get a solo but hey, it would have been a lesser performance without him.

How many stars? Let's give Oscar, Lorne, Niels-Henning and Martin the universe for starters. Lance

Available Nov. 15 (Mack Avenue).

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