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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.

Sunday, October 02, 2016

Alice Grace Quartet @ Ushaw College, Durham - September 29

Alice Grace (voice), Peter Gilligan (piano), Paul Grainger (bass), Russ Morgan (drums). 
(Review by Steve T).
A cold, dark night at Ushaw, no students around in Durham ‘til next weekend and the numbers were down on what we've come to expect for this most sumptuous of venues, with quite a few regulars missing and attendance hovering just under thirty.
No reflection on the band, Alice Grace is exactly the sort of thing the regulars soak up, a great singer with a swinging band, and a well thought out mix of classic, cult and contemporary.
Contemporary to open and an original, Lullaby on/of Broadway - is there really not a standard with this title? The lady seemed uncharacteristically nervous but settled in during the first of much scatting through the night, and little wonder, she's masterful (or is it mistressful?) at it.
This was followed by Windows by Corea/Grace, the Rodgers and Hammerstein of Transatlantic Jazz, and look out for a forthcoming recording of it, presumably part of an EP or an album. After a piano/ vocal intro there was some fabulous interaction between the two before she closed the number with some lovely adlibbing. In fact Gilly - does he mind if I call him Gilly? - proved an excellent foil for the singer on every piece and the show has almost become a double act, with bass and drums happy to stay back but never putting a finger or thumb, sticks, hands or feet wrong throughout.
Something called Invitation followed by Love Dance as interpreted by Streisand and surprisingly only a couple of takers when she asked if the audience were into Babs. Even I think she's a fantastic singer.
I'm beginning to see the Light closed the first set, featuring fours between scat and drums, and by now applause had risen to raucous, with cheering, yelps and whoops.
Set two opened with the first of two Kenny Wheeler originals, this one with lyrics by Norma Winstone and a duet between Alice and Gilly called Winter Sweet.
Alone Together found Russ playing toms with his hands and hi-hat and I've gushed about this in these pages before, switching it up with sticks for Gillys' solo and a first bass solo of the night, which was characteristically tasteful and welcome.
Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea next and a wager between me and my far better half whether she'd go Kylie or Steps. Stalemate as she went Ella, in hindsight unsurprisingly given her obvious scatting skills, and the piece ended with her exchanging scat with piano, then bass, then drums.
Before the next song she confessed to loving a bit of scatting cos we were all thinking she wasn't very good at remembering lyrics. The Gentle Rain to end before the compere asked for an encore and she gave us The Sky is There by Lars Johnson with lyrics by the lady herself. Hi-hat and walking bass-line behind the voice and Gilly’s entrance after a couple of verses propelled her into the greatest joyfulness I've ever heard from her voice.
I hope she makes a return to Ushaw when all the regulars are around and a few students and university types take it back to capacity; she deserves it and they deserve it.
Steve T.

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