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Bebop Spoken There

Ambrose Akinmusire: “ I am certainly always aware of what the masses are doing. And when I see too many people going one way, I'm going another way - even when I don't know what's over that way". DownBeat, March, 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

16287 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 169 of them this year alone and, so far, 41 this month (Mar 18).

From This Moment On ...

March

Tue 19: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Tim Johnston.

Wed 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 20: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 20: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 21: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 21: Castillo Neuvo Trio + Conor Emery & His ‘Bones Band @ The Grove, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £10.00. (£7.00. student).
Thu 21: Remi Banklyn + Chris Corcoran Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.50. Chicago blues. An International Guitar Foundation promotion.
Thu 21: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Ragtime piano.
Thu 21: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 22: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 22: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 22: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 22: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 22: Nauta + Remy CB + Last Orders @ Hoochie Coochie, Newcastle. 8:30pm (7:30pm doors). Free.
Fri 22: Vasilis Xenopoulos-Paul Edis Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £15.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 22: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 23: Jambone @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Free (ticketed). End of term performance in the Northern Rock Foundation Hall.
Sat 23: Milne-Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 23: Red Kites Jazz @ Rowlands Gill Community Centre NE39 1JB. 7:00pm. Tickets: £12.00. (gibsidecommunityfarm@gmail.com). A ‘Build a Barn’ fundraiser. BYOB, tea/coffee available.
Sat 23: New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00. + bf (book in person at venue - no booking fee!). Featuring pianist Martin Litton.
Sat 23: Pete Tanton’s Cuba Libre @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 24: Musicians Unlimited @ Park Inn, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 24: Luis Verde @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. Verde (alto sax); Joe Steels (guitar); John Pope (double bass); John Hirst (drums). Alto sax brilliance!
Sun 24: Elsie Franklin @ The Globe, Newcastle. 3:00pm. £10.00. Country blues. An International Guitar Foundation promotion.
Sun 24: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay Metro Station. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: Las Vegas Live with the Rat Pack @ The Forum, Billingham.
Sun 24: Ian Millar & Dominic Spencer @ Otterburn Memorial Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Sun 24: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Note start time - 7:00pm.
Sun 24: Bold Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 25: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Ian Carr - Celebration of a life in music. Queen Elizabeth Hall, South Bank Centre, London.

I'd forgotten just how brilliant Nucleus were but at tonight's celebration of the life of Ian Carr Nucleus Re-visited & guests gave the packed auditoreum a timely reminder. Led from the piano/keyboards by Geoff Castle they produced a powerful sound that raised the bar out of sight and that is no reflection on the great music that preceded Nucleus of which more later. I'm not going to list all the pieces but the opener - Mr Jelly Lord - told us we were in for one helluva finale. Tim Whitehead, who'd performed earlier on soprano and bass clarinet with Guy Barker in Ian's Northumbrian Sketches, had some blistering tenor solos but for me Mark Wood's blast on Roots stole the night although perhaps I'm letting parochial pride colour my judgement. Ray Russell came on and 'burned' Midnight Oil whilst John Marshall joined Nie France for some powerful percussion on Lady Bountiful a 5/4 explosion. The final Things Past began reflectively before breaking loose with Tim and Mark once again cooking. On trumpet, Chris Batchelor had the unenviable role of Ian Carr - he did it faultlessly. Likewise Phil Todd on soprano and flute also had moments to cherish. Rob Statham was more than just a bass player. For me he was the standout on the Northumbrian Sketches suite. The evening began with Dorian Ford playing Ian's Icarus on the bar area grand piano. A very complex piece played well. More solo piano kicked off the concert proper. Nicki Yeoh, a former student of Ian's played her own Two Bears Dancing and The Healer. A very talented young lady watch this space. Michael Garrick Sextet were next up. Michael Garrick (pno), Norma Winstone (vcl), Henry Lowther (tpt), Art Themen (ten), Dave Green (bs), Trevor Tompkins (dms) and, later, Don Rendell joined on tenor and flute for an updated look at their pad from way back. In particular, Webster's Mood, dedicated to Ben had some outstanding Art on tenor, Don on flute and an expressive vocal by Norma. The delights were too numerous to mention but an uptempo piece appropriately entitled The Torrent got the ventricles pumping. Which just leaves the Northumbrian Sketches. Introduced by Morse's sidekick, Kevin Whately, the strings, led by Sylvia Slany and conducted by Mike Gibbs, were sumptuous enveloping the listener in a reverie of seascapes and pastoral landscapes. I imagined the view from the top of Garleigh Moor near Rothbury or waves on the beach at Bamburgh. The solos from Guy and Tim were excellent yet... it didn't fully connect with me. Possibly it was because I'd had a long day's travel and got rather wet in the process but overall it was a little too soporific for me. And yes, I know it was me not the music - I was tired (please feel free to select your own alternative!) Even so, nothing could detract from what was a perfect tribute to a musician and a gentleman. Lance.
PS: I should also mention that the biggest round of applause from both the musicians and the audience was accorded to Coleridge Goode. Wheelchair bound Coleridge now aged 94 and a former colleague of Ian's beamed with delight at the recognition given by all present.
PPS: Tonight it's the Spice of Life - lots of variety.

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