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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.

Saturday, February 01, 2014

CD Review: Arild Andersen - Mira

Arild Andersen (bs); Tommy Smith (ten/fl); Paola Vinaccia (dms).
(Review by Steve H.)
This album has now become infamous as this was the last Jazz CD to be reviewed by The Scotsman much to Tommy Smith’s chagrin  Led by Norwegian Double Bass player Arild Anderson together with Scottish tenor player Tommy Smith and Italian born drummer but Norwegian resident Paola Vinaccia this trio come together for their second recorded collaboration in 6 years.  
The album starts with a brooding introspective piece Bygone which features a long bass solo by Anderson. Let bygone be bygones I say, as the next tune Blussy is almost funky and features a  rousing solo by Smith. This leads to the only cover on the album Burt Bacharach’s Alfie which is very sensitively and lyrically played by Smith’s saxophone   accompanied expertly by the other 2 band members. Rossetti  is a surprisingly lively number and the trio seem to really hit their stride. Reperate sees Anderson create a haunting atmosphere with the use of electronics. Raijin is a duet between drummer and Smith who plays the Shakuhachi - a Japanese style flute. Le Saleya has an almost Coltrane like feel, there is a certain poignant reflective quality about it. A brief interlude then comes in the way of another evocative shakuhachi solo Kangiten.  The title track Mira is a vehicle for Andersen to really  show his prowess, ably abetted by Smith and Vinaccia, to produce a rather fetching melodious offering.  The penultimate tune Eight and More sees Smith once more star on sax. The final track has an almost Eastern feel to it and if the title was to be guessed using  a crossword style clue it might read ‘heavy weight in middle of reviewer’ -  Stevtone.
This album was never likely to be wild wacky affair given its Nordic influences, however it is far livelier than one would imagine. The trio combine seamlessly to produce a highly enjoyable album. At least The Scotsman’s final Jazz review goes out on a high but what a shame it didn’t inspire them to continue reviewing music from the less popular musical genres. Hopefully if Scotland does become independent their residents will still be able to get Jazz reviews from sites such as this one although they may need a Scottish version ‘bejock spoken here’. 
 Arild Andersen - Mira is available on ECM Records.
Steve H.

1 comment :

Lance said...

I understand The Scotsman, under pressure from Scotsmen (and women), has since relented.

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