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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.

Thursday, September 29, 2016

CD Review: Square One – In Motion

Joe Williamson (guitar), Peter Johnstone (piano), David Bowden (bass) & Stephen Henderson (drums & percussion)
(Review by Russell)
Four undergraduates met at the Conservatoire of Scotland. They formed a quartet, played some gigs, recorded an EP, and, as recipients of the 2015 Peter Whittingham Jazz Award, recorded a debut CD in April 2016. The band is Square One, the album is In Motion. The band’s publicity suggests the music embraces variously ECM Euro-cool, folk, fusion and, of course, jazz.
Ten tracks, all of which are group compositions, span precisely sixty minutes. Beginning with the title track – Square One – keeps things simple, saying to the listener: This is who we are. Joe Williamson, guitar, Peter Johnstone, piano, David Bowden (double bass) and Stephen Henderson (drums) have rapidly developed a collective identity; strong, melodic compositions negotiated with impressive, mature musicianship.

A shimmering, yet taut Full Circle is the sound of jazz today. Bowden and Henderson are assured navigators of the developing joyous melody. Bowden’s resonant strings-on-wood double bass playing on Eastern Ballad is expertly recorded by engineer Stuart Hamilton. Quicksand and Quicksand – Part 2 feature Williamson’s urgent, flowing lines, quelled by Johnstone’s Part 2 calming influence. Bowden’s bass features on 12 with a suggestion of Milestones underpinning the tune.
Crawler is a standout track for at least two reasons: a wonderful, sprawling blues number with Williamson’s down-in-the-hole solo punctuated by Johnstone’s descending patterns, and, it is (successfully) atypical of the album as a whole. In Motion succeeds in the fusing of folk melody with jazz improvisation. Recorded at Castlesound Studios in Pencaitland, the album is Square One’s calling card. Released on 4 October, In Motion is a thoroughly recommended purchase. Square One embark upon a European tour at the Spotted Dog in Birmingham on 4 October. Three dates in Poland follow (including Theatre in the Castle, Przemsyl, 23 October), then there is a home turf gig at the Hug and Pint in Glasgow and a London date at the Vortex on 29 November.                                                                             
Russell.
In Motion (SQ1CD1601) is available on the quartet's bandcamp page.

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