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Bebop Spoken There

Béla Fleck: “ And that's the great thing about live performances, you take people on a journey. It doesn't have to be like something else they've heard. It's not supposed to be". DownBeat, April, 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.

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, October 28, 2010

Ray Chester Big Band @ The Corner House.

Graham Hardy, Mick Hill, Dave Hignett, Alec Lewis, Tim Rhodes (tpts). Don Fairley, Eric Strodl, Alan Bravey, Dave Brock (tmb). Ray Dales, Kim Webb (alt), Steve Summers, Alan Marshall (ten), Niall Armstrong (bar). Colin Haikney (pno), Pete Stuart (bs), Stu Haikney (dms). Mia Webb (vcl), Ray Chester (ldr).
A big band within the confinemes of the Corner House is a daunting prospect. A 5-4-5-3 formation playing Herman/Kenton charts is enough to make the management of the newly refurbished building wonder if, like the Walls of Jericho, the place will come a 'tumbling down.
Needless to say the walls didn't crumble and one does wonder about the legend although if Dave Hignett had been blowing lead on the Jericho gig then the fantasy becomes feasible.
Ray's band drew a good crowd who paid their respects to the local bandleader who has been plying his craft for nigh on 60 years!
Woody's Applehoney, Stan's Intermission Riff. Woody's Opus de Funk, Stan's Painted Rhythm, Woody's Greasy Sack Blues were just some of the old warhorses that were faithfully reproduced. In particular, the sumptuous But Beautiful stood out - rich and mellow with harmonies as deep as they come.
Dr. Steve Summers and Alan Marshall blew superb tenor whilst Ray Dales had some impressive moments on alto.
Graham Hardy is on a roll these days soloing with the same aplomb as he did last Sunday with Zoe and, no doubt, did at Paul's apres funeral jam this afternoon. Don Fairley took care of the trombone solos and the rhythm section kept things swinging.
Mia Webb was featured in the June Christy role and did indeed share some of that famous singers vocal traits.
A good gig that was appreciated by all.
Lance.

3 comments :

Roly said...

Highlight for me was that lush arrangement of 'But Beautiful' - gorgeous! Also was reminded of what a wonderful song 'You go to my head' is - surely one of the finest of all the great Gasbook repertoire.
Grand evening.
Roly

Liz said...

So agree Roly. Just finished a remarkable book passed on by Lance "Easy to Remember" by one William Zinsser. This covers the great American songwriters & their songs.It is encyclopedic in it's nature, covering all the greats and the way in which they fashioned their words & music. He has an amazing grasp on the public's expectations on what pleases, and towards the end touches on a subject close to my heart re. the later shows eg ALW. He says that these musicals are a whole new breed, high tech spectacles that rely for their appeal on size & special effects. Historically people went to the musical theatre for language as much as music, words & ideas. Today they want visual dazzle and a lot of sound.
Liz

Russell said...

Hi Lance

I can but echo Roly's comments.

Russell

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