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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

Thu 28: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 28: Gateshead Jazz Appreciation Society @ Gateshead Central Library, Gateshead. 2:30pm.
Thu 28: Richard Herdman Quartet @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 28: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Guests: Josh Bentham (alto sax); Alan Marshall (tenor sax); Neil Brodie (trumpet); Adrian Beadnell (bass); Graham Thompson (keys); Steve Hunter (drums).

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.

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.

Thursday, February 09, 2017

Southport Jazz Festival: Ben Cox Band - February 5

Ben Cox (vocal), Matt Davies (sax), Jamie Safir (piano), Flo Moore (acoustic and electric bass, backing vocals), Will Glaser (drums).
(Review by Steve T/Photos courtesy of Neil Hughes, © Robert Burns)
On paper, this was the one that appealed to me the least and so it proved. Sorry guys and gal but I prefer instrumental Jazz and get my fix of singers mostly from soul.
But what a lovely way to spend a Sunday morning. I thought I'd missed the start but arrived just in time for the introductions and flitted about during Pennies from Heaven, sorting out water for my assortment of pills – the penalty of a misspent youth - trying to find out whether the hotel had forgotten my wake-up call or if I'd slept through it and what to do for breakfast.
Asda pineapple with Lead the Way, an original and not half bad, chatting about all things with Count (Tony) Eales and a lady from the Wigan Jazz Festival, my wife’s hometown though she doesn't eat pies or gamble, but knows the rules for both types of rugby.  
You Turned the Tables on Me, through the prism of Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass with cappuccino followed by a much improved Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears, the first time I've heard Flo Moore play electric bass, and doing backing vocals too.
Flo is never less than impressive, ditto the rest of the band, and Cox is a safe pair of hands with an impressive range who handles an audience with ease. If he's more Bublé (dare I offer Olly Murs?) than Sinatra, it was perfect programming for this particular slot and the audience, at just about capacity, relished it.
A Foggy Day in London Town and A Nightingale in Berkeley Square were right up his street. Way of Life features Liane Carol on the record but she sat it out here.
Part two began with Ben and impressive pianist Jamie Safir with the old Motown stalwart How Sweet it Is. A short search for the rest of the band and the walk of shame as the audience jovially delivered a slow hand-clap. 
Round and Round, written for his niece, was a very impressive original followed by one of the Steely Dan hits (I think); something about Back Jack. I Get a Kick was back squarely in his comfort zone before Funny How Time Slips Away, by lots of people but you must check it by Rueben Howell, lush Country Soul and blue-eyed too, at an educated guess.
As I guarded a camera for someone, Liane Carroll finally turned up like a one-woman choir for a rousing finale, her earthy realness proving infectious and spreading through the band, exchanging scatting with Ben, some blue piano, a smoking sax solo, solid drumming and Flo Moore - 'nuff said.
Clearly a highlight of the festival for many.
Steve T.
Photos.

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