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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

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.
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.

Wednesday, December 09, 2015

Joe Morris Quartet @ The Bridge Hotel, Newcastle - Dec. 6

Joe Morris (gtr); Mat Maneri (viola); Chris Lightcap (bs); Gerald Cleaver (dms).
(Review/photo by Ken Drew).
Making a single day stopover visit to Newcastle for their one and only appearance in the UK during their current European tour, the Joe Morris Quartet were on the button with two sets of free improvisation. Despite travel delays and a demanding tour schedule, they performed as fresh and as keenly as ever.  
The audience at The Bridge (circa 40) came from far and wide (including Wakefield) and listened intently to the two sets. This was improv performed by well-established exponents of their trade.  The music flowed effortlessly, or so it seemed between solos, duos and quartet.  It is, of course, far more complex in its structure and creative inventiveness, than its natural flows would initially suggest.   Their concentration was sometimes hidden through their flawless playing and seamless movement between pieces, each nicely linked by the full force of the quartet, giving way to solo-space where solos were allowed to fully develop.
It’s worth searching out their last CD “Balance” (2014) if only to sample a few tracks.  If you were at this concert then it’s a good reminder of the music and the rather unique occasion we all enjoyed, and if you weren’t there then it’s the next best thing, although lacking the live visuals of concentration and interplay between these masterful players.
What a superb gig – a real coup for Jazz North East, and a memorable gig for those who helped pack the upstairs room at the Bridge. A final word from Joe himself, was to thank the audience not so much for coming along, but for their dedicated concentration which for the band adds to the enjoyment and value of performing this music. Much appreciated, all-round !
Ken Drew

1 comment :

Paul Bream said...

Ken's review of this is spot on . . . the gig was a masterclass by four of the finest and most empathetic improvisers you could find anywhere . . . the spontaneous interaction between them was surely telepathic. But don't just take my word for how good this gig was . . . this is what Joe Morris himself has subsequently emailed: "Wonderful space and audience". And it gets better, because the whole thing was recorded by Jazz North East's in-house engineer Charlie McGovern, and Joe goes on to say: "I'll be writing to Charlie to get the recording. We think it might be the next JM4tet CD, that's how good we felt about the gig".
I don't know of too many live recordings that have emerged from the Bridge Hotel, but when there's a prospect of something from a group of this international brilliance, well, that's next year's Xmas presents all take care of!

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