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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.

Wednesday, June 14, 2017

A Night of Swing @ Newcastle University - June 13

(Review by Russell)
King’s Hall hosted the jazz evening of this year’s Newcastle University Summer Music Festival. The week-long, end of term, mid-summer jamboree celebrates a year of student music making encompassing classical, folk, new music, and, tonight’s offering, jazz. Charles Philp, this year’s festival ‘chair’ and erstwhile occasional participant at the Jazz Café’s top flight jam session, has knocked into shape the 2016-2017 edition of the Newcastle University Jazz Orchestra. Guitarist Philp left his instrument in its case as he took to the stage to conduct the band for the last time.
Newcastle University Jazz Orchestra can proudly boast that it is the only big band to have taken part in the Great North Big Band Jazz Festival every year since its inception. Indeed, the band’s debut appearance was a winning one. 2017’s line-up included no fewer than seven saxophones (five of them altos!), just three trumpets and three trombones and a beefed-up rhythm section as Nick Loughlin (guitar) joined the engine room boys. A familiar face or two – the principle soloists within their sections – shone; trumpeter Joe Davies has made his mark at the Jazz Café’s twice-monthly hot-shot jam session and County Durham Youth Big Band trombone star Tom McDonald.

The evening’s performance was streamed live on Facebook. The King’s Hall’s acoustics don’t do much for a big band, nevertheless, Philp’s outfit pressed the pedal to the floor determined to sign off in style. From A Train to The Jazz Police, the first set rattled along. Splanky was Basie-ish as Neal Hefti intended, and soon-to-graduate Becky Wilson’s clarinet struggled to make itself heard above the orchestra on Moonlight Serenade. Bassist Ifede Osiyemi stepped out front to sing a few numbers (guitarist Loughlin filling in on bass). His voice projecting to the gallery, Osiyemi engaged with the audience particularly on Straighten Up and Fly Right. A talented young man, let’s hear him jamming on Pink Lane.  

MD Charlie Philp put his heart and soul into this farewell performance. He and several of his fellow students are moving on. The sections met with Philp’s approval and the orchestra’s three featured soloists – trumpeter Joe Davies, trombonist Tom McDonald, and Sarah Appleby playing tenor – did all, and more, that was required of them. Philp bounced around to the Manteca beat, and again on Flight of the Foo Birds. Sitting at a Steinway, pianist George Simon played with great enthusiasm – another talent sure to be made welcome at a jam session, likewise the more than competent Harry Still behind the traps. On this evidence, next term’s Newcastle University Jazz Orchestra could be a contender for honours at the 2018 GNBBJF.                                        

Newcastle University Jazz Orchestra: Charles Philp, MD; reeds Becky Wilson (alto & clarinet), Chloe Nash (alto), Esther Coombes (alto), Michael Oates (alto), Sam Fox (alto), Sarah Appleby (tenor & flute), Cristina Rodriguez-Booth (baritone); trumpets Joe Davies, Simon Hirst, Becca Twist; trombones Thomas McDonald, Tim Rodaway, Alex Utting; Dome Hukhoi (guitar), Nick Loughlin (guitar), George Simons (piano), Ifede Osiyemi (bass & vocals) & Harry Still (drums)

Earlier in the evening, three musicians paid homage to Django Reinhardt. The Northern Trio, a trio new to Bebop Spoken Here, played acoustically for about half an hour. Two guitarists, one violinist, Gauloises (imaginary), berets (similarly of the imagination), Charlie, Clémênt and Gabriel made an impression. Their names wouldn’t be out of place in Montparnasse.      

A Night of Swing said the programme notes. The young Hot Clubbers got stuck in. Charlie Gordon and Clément Lemêtre (yes, he’s from Paris!) exchanged solos and complimented one another with regulation rhythm accompaniment. Grappelli –aka Gabriel May – sat between the two and all three musicians took a little while to relax into their performance. Grouped tightly together in the vast hall audience ears were cocked to hear the intimate musical conversation of the Manouche Three. The choice of material was regulation stuff; All of Me, Sheik of Araby, Coquette, all performed with care and due reverence. A Night of Swing, small group and big band. Philp and co put on a great show.      
The Northern Trio: Charlie Gordon (guitar), Clément Lemêtre (guitar) & Gabriel May (violin).   
Russell.

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