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Bebop Spoken There

Simon Spillett: “ Bebop and hard bop came naturally to him [Tubby Hayes]". Morning Star, March 28, 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

Fri 29: FILM: Soul @ The Forum Cinema, Hexham. 12:30pm. Jazz-themed film animation.
Fri 29: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 29: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 29: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 29: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 6:00pm. Free. POSTPONED!
Fri 29: Thundercat @ Newcastle City Hall.
Fri 29: John Logan @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 29: True Colours @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 9:00pm. Blues, jazz & swing.

Sat 30: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 30: Pete Tanton’s Cuba Libre @ Whitley Bay Library, York Road, Whitley Bay. 8:00pm.

Sun 31: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay Metro Station. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 31: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields NE30 1HJ. 3:00pm. Free. Lambert, Alan Law & Paul Grainger.
Sun 31: Sid Jacobs & Tom Remon @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. USA/London jazz guitar duo.
Sun 31: Bellavana @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

April
Mon 01: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 01: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 3:00pm. Free.

Tue 02: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Dean Stockdale, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 03: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 03: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 03: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 04: FILM: Soul @ Forum Cinema, Hexham. 2:00pm. Jazz-themed film animation.
Thu 04: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 04: Funky Drummer @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 04: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 04: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

CD Review: Burak Bedikyan - Circle of Life

Burak Bedikyan (pno); Chris Potter (ten); Peter Washington (bs); Bill Stewart (dms).
(Review by Lance)
The moment I heard the opening First Steps I said "Monk with Charlie Rouse." Then it dawned on me that this guy was playing a lot more notes than Monk even though some of the harmonies and intervals were similar. However, unlike Monk, these sounded right first time round!
Bedikyan could be the greatest Turkish jazz musician ever - I've forgotten the name of the other one, so maybe he is.
What is certain is that, irrespective of nationality, the Turkish pianist is set to make his mark on jazz piano playing. Rich probing harmonies on tunes such as the Beatles' Here, There and Everywhere firmly entrenching this otherwise insignificant song into the jazz repertoire. Now 35, Bedikyan, possibly because of a Christian upbringing in a Muslim community, cites his early influences as western pop and rock music, discovering jazz through his fathers record collection - Peterson, Garner etc.
Those influences and many more were absorbed into his playing (and indeed into that of every other jazz pianist in the world!) Gradually the influences were put on the back-burner as he developed his own individuality which is what we hear on this recording. 
Potter, forward thinking New York saxist, ventures outside of the comfort zone on Prayer For Forgiveness Part One taking Bedikyan along for the ride. It's a bumpy journey but they survive as can be heard in the Serenity of Part Two.
The Joy of Giving is just that - sheer Joy all round. Potter's contemporary hard bop sound, Bedikyan's comping, contra lines and solos, Washington's bass, Stewart's drum take out - all combine to achieve as near perfection as, by the nature of the beast, you'll ever get in jazz.
TF, BB's tribute to the late Tommy Flanagan raises Bedikyan himself into the great man's inner circle. Perhaps even his spiritual heir...
There have been so many good discs released this year that to select one is nigh impossible. Tell you what though - I don't know how long my short-list will be but I guarantee Circle of Life will be high up on it!
Burak Bedikyan - Circle of Life is available on Steeplechase Look Out Records.
Lance.

1 comment :

Burak Bedikyan (on f/b) said...

A fresh review about "Circle of Life" is published on the highly regarded blog "Bebop Spoken Here" ! With all my gratitude to Mr. Lance Liddle !

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