Total Pageviews

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.

Friday, September 20, 2013

Ruthie Culver and the Utter Jazz Quartet with readings of the works of W H Auden by Nikolas Grace @ Hexham Abbey. Sept 20.

(Review by Peter Ninnim.)
The theme of the concert was  Benjamin Britten's songs with W H Auden's words re-arranged into a jazz score! I was sceptical at first but within a few minutes it was obvious that this was going to be something special. There were so many good things that it is hard to know where to start. Each piece of music was followed by an extract from a W H Auden poem read with great care and feeling by late stand in Nikolas Grace. The pieces were modern jazz to gentle rock; jazz waltz to samba and swinging like mad in places.
Some of you will be familiar with the poem from 4 weddings and a funeral called Funeral Blues and this was one of the outstanding pieces in the second half with a sensitive vocal performance by Ruthie Culver and moving playing by bassist Jonny Gee. Many of the readings were humorous but most were deep, although quite short, messages of intensely felt emotion. Miss Culvers’ singing was a masterclass in clarity of diction and the vocal gymnastics necessary on some of the songs reminded me throughout of Cleo Laine, every aspiring singer in the region should have been listening. This was particularly evident on Now the leaves are falling fast which was supported throughout by stunning piano accompaniment by Dan Hewson and  by the coolest drumming I have heard in years by Andrea Trillo; (Italian George Clooney look alike I'm told).
The final number, When you're feeling like expressing your affection, had a gentle bluesy funk feel to it and had everyone in the audience of over a hundred people moving in their seats. I haven't mentioned Mick Foster so far but he was ever present playing Bass Clarinet; Flute; Soprano, Baritone and C Melody Sax and very evident on this song. Wow!
I should mention that Dan Hewson played trombone as well as piano; Jonny Gee also produced a trumpet or flugelhorn so there was a proper horn section at times!
Despite tickets being £14.00 I thought 100 people was an amazing audience and talking to everyone afterwards it was apparent that the band had made a huge hit. It was great to see the whole group including Nikolas Grace talking to the audience in the interval and after the show. A lesson to all bands I feel.
One last word. The sound system was balanced beautifully and despite the high ceiling and stone walls we could hear every note.
Great concert, thanks Hexham.
Peter Ninnim.

1 comment :

Lance said...

I'm glad I didn't go - my review couldn't have matched that! Thank you Peter, your BSH badge is in the post.

Blog Archive