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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, October 27, 2010

Kenny Wheeler's 80th Birthday Big Band Concert @ The Sage

Kenny Wheeler (flg), Derek Watkins, Henry Lowther, John Barcley, Nick Smart (tpts). Dave Horler, Mark Nightingale, Barnaby Dickinson, Dave Stewart (tmbs). Ray Warleigh, Duncan Lamont (alt), Evan Parker, Stan Sulzman (ten), Julian Arguelles, (bar). John Taylor (pno), John Paricelli (gtr), Chris Laurence (bs), Martin France (dms), Diana Torto (vcl) and Pete Churchill (MD).
Given another name concert (The Frank Vignola Trio) was on at the Customs House just ten mile downstream and that the 'Toon' (Newcastle United - a local soccer team) were in Carling Cup action at home to Arsenal it wasn't, perhaps, surprising that the numbers in The Sage's Hall One were pitifully thin. Even so, it was still difficult to understand as, in jazz terms, this wasn't Carling Cup it was Premier League verging on Champions League and, whereas Arsenal went away with a 4-0 victory, those jazz fans who attended Kenny W's 80th Birthday bash were at a concert where nobody could lose.
An all original program written and arranged by the birthday boy himself kicked off with a quartet number which let us know that his melodic ear was intact. Blowing flugel he kept to the middle/lower register in the manner of Chet Baker and the sound was mellifluous the tone full and bright and round like a Hunter's Moon in a cloudless sky.
Gradually the other musicians wandered on and the scene was set.
Using the voice as an instrument isn't new - from Duke onwards it has been experimented with - Michael Garrick and Norma Winstone being a typical example.
Diana Torto was a new name to me but has she got ears! Soaring above the ensemble or wordlessly soloing, her pitching and timing are immaculate. One minor crit - I felt she went a little over the top in the final piece. Having said that, others thought that this was her finest moment so who am I to argue!
Apart from KW, until the finale, the saxes had had the brunt of the solo's each putting his brand on the particular opus.
The actual last number finally allowed the trumpets and trombones to have their say and say it they did!
Am I wrong in thinking Mark Nightingale and Henry Lowther were deserved of a little more space?
John Taylor, apart from helping the aging flugel hornist to his chair, also played fine piano and the rhyhm section were superb all-round with Martin France's drumming right on the money.
Lance.

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