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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.

Monday, March 18, 2024

Freddie Garner Quartet @ the Railway, Stockport - March 17

(© Jeff Pritchard)
Freddie Garner (keys); Jim Collins (alto/tenor sax/flute); James Adolpho (bass); Phil Bennett (drums).

The Sunday night audience was a bit noisier than usual due to a few revellers celebrating St Patrick's day but it did not seem to bother Freddie who just keeps the bebop flame burning with his hard driving brand of modern jazz. There were lots of interesting numbers played by this excellent quartet including a tune called Little Bea’s Poem which was a flute feature for reed maestro Jim Collins who impressed me with his full sound achieved without the use of a mic. Who wrote this tune? I think it may be Woody Shaw but I could be wrong.

The Saltburn Big Band @ Dorman’s Jazz Club, Middlesbrough - March 14

Dave Brock, Dan Chirniside, Tony Turne, Django Zazou (trombones); Kevin Eland, Adrian Beadnell, Colin Moore, Karen Jones (trumpets); Mark Toomey, Ellice Jones, Donna Hewitt, Andy Devine, Simon Jones (saxes); Paul Donnelly (guitar); Dave Archbold (keys); John Daniels (bass); Chris Murphy (drums); Darren Moore (congas); Bridget Metcalfe (vocals).

The 19 piece band, formed less than a year ago with Kevin Eland as MD, were making their second appearance at Dorman’s and are now firmly established and acknowledged as a first class big band.

Opening the night with their signature tune, Louis Ferras's composition Domino, the full big band sound and a fine tenor sax solo from Donna Hewitt, started the night in great style. A more relaxed Nice 'n' Easy with lovely trumpet from Kevin Eland was then followed by Bridget Metcalfe taking centre stage to show what a class singer she is with a fast swinging version of Lerner and Lowe's Almost Like Being in Love. In complete contrast Bridget then sang I Can't Get Started and Mark Toomey showed his alto sax skills with his solo and his subtle finish.

Once a Fig @ the Green Note, Camden Town, London - March 12

Seeing a new band always has that sense of anticipation to it because you're never quite sure what it will be like. That's one of the reasons I go to Folkandroots shows because, in Graham Smallwood, you know you can trust the promoter's judgement. If he says they'll be good, they'll be good. Last night the cosy confines of the Green Note basement showed just why that faith is justified. 

Sunday night @ the Globe: Luis Verde Trio - March 17

(© Ken Drew)
Luis Verde (alto sax); John Pope (bass); Abbie Finn (drums)

Over the years I've been in the presence of greatness. Sometimes by musicians reliving past glories as well as others who were on the cusp of it.

Most of these greats were American, some British, but, apart from that wonderful pianist, the late Tete Montoliu who I heard at the San Sebastian Jazz Festival back in the early nineteen seventies, I can't think of any other Spanish jazzmen of such eminence.

Until last night that is.

Sunday, March 17, 2024

Jazz Time Aycliffe Radio - Sundays 6.30-8.00pm (repeated Tuesdays 8.00-9.30pm).

https://www.ayclifferadio.co.uk/listen

Aycliffe Radio is now available on DAB in County Durham & the Darlington area.


Playlist 17/03/24 (repeated Tuesday 19/03/24)

St. Patrick’s Day: Ben Webster, Paul Joseph & Edgar Mills.

Requests: Cab Calloway, Lester Young, Duke Ellington, Chick Corea, Frog & Henry, Sonny Rollins.

St. Patrick Continued: Noel Kelehan Quintet, Louis Stewart, Herbie Hancock.

Memories Birthdays: Harry James, Quincy Jones.

What’s on in the NE: James Birkett/Bradley Johnston, Paul Edis, Vasilis Xenopoulos.

Springtime: Willie the Lion Smith, Erroll Garner.

At the Globe, tonite...Luis Verde!

A year or more ago at a Black Swan jam session the place was busy, the bar doing good business, a low level hubbub filtering cross the room. MC Paul Grainger invited a newcomer to sit in with the house trio. Step forward an alto saxophonist. Within a couple of bars a hush descended upon Westgate Road as we heard the most amazing bop/post bop/modern jazz alto sax. Wow! Who's this? Long story short, it was Luis Verde. This evening (Sunday 17 March) at the Globe, Luis will be working in the company of two A-listers, namely bassist John Pope and award-winning drummer Abbie Finn. Whatever you do, don't miss this gig, it promises to be an 'I was there' occasion. Russell

Saturday, March 16, 2024

Swing Manouche @ the Old Black Cat Jazz Club, Sunderland - March 15

Steve McGarvie (clarinet); Mick Shoulder (guitar); Dave Smith (rhythm guitar); Paul Grainger (string bass)

1719 is a renovated Georgian church in Hendon (Old Sunderland), '1719' refers to the date the building opened. In the late 20th century the place closed, in danger of falling into disrepair. Fast forward to 2024, thanks to significant investment the place is now a flourishing community events space. Last month's inaugural jazz session featuring the Giles Strong Quartet drew a crowd, this evening, Mick Shoulder's Swing Manouche attracted as many and more.  Sunderland's Old Black Cat Jazz Club is well and truly up and running. Jazz in the heart of 'Old Sunderland', who'd have thought it? 

Friday, March 15, 2024

Album review: Jane Scheckter - I'll Take Romance

Jane Scheckter (vocals); Ted Firth (piano); Jay Leonhart (bass); Peter Grant (drums) + Warren Vaché (trumpet/flugel on 5 tks); Nicolas King (vocal on tk 11)

Yet another outstanding NYC vocalist. They must be standing ten abreast the length of Broadway hoping for a review by BSH that will enable them to be doing the same on Frith St. only to find that the pavements of Soho are already full!

Jazz @ The Lit and Phil: The Mark Williams Trio - March 15

(© Pam)
Mark Williams  (guitar); Paul Susans (bass guitar); Rob Walker (drums).

The Mark Williams Trio have released two albums: Balaclava Street and Last Bus to Bensham. Today was a chance for them to preview material, all written by Mark Williams, which will be on a third album to be recorded later this year. On today’s listening, what an album it is going  to be!

1950s jazz in north west Lancashire

As teenagers, back in the 1950s, we moved seamlessly from the rock and roll era to jazz. That’s modern jazz by the way, not the raucous trad jazz, as in When the Saints go Marching in.

In north west Lancashire we were truly fortunate to have talented jazz singers and musicians playing on our doorsteps at the Empress and Imperial Ballrooms in Burnley and Nelson, every week. 

Saxophonist Johnny Dankworth, Musician of the Year in 1949 (later Sir John Dankworth) frequented Nelson regularly, as did Ronnie Scott and Tubby Hayes. Scott, of course, opened his own jazz club in Soho in the 1950s.  It still hosts the cream of musicians and singers to this day.

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