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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.

Friday, January 06, 2017

CD Review: Ron Boustead - Unlikely Valentine

Ron Boustead (vocals); Bill Cunliffe (keys/B3); Mitchel Forman (keys/B3Accordion); John Leftwich (bass); Jake Reed (drums/perc.); Pat Kelley (guitars); Bob Sheppard (saxes/flute); Bob McChesney (trombone); Ron Stout (flugel); Fabiana Passoni (vocal on Til Now).
(Review by Lance).
Unlikely Valentine is an apt title as I don’t get many Valentine cards these days – I think the last one was in 1982 and then it was meant for the house next door – at least that’s what I told my wife which was when she told me that she'd sent it!.
There was an occasion at Blaydon Jazz Club on one VD when Zoe Gilby, upon discovering that I hadn’t received any cards, dedicated the most famous Valentine song of them all to me. Lots of sympathetic purring all round but the sympathy didn’t develop further!
Zoe and Alan Law, incidentally, are on at the Jazz Caff tonight – 9pm and free!
Back to the CD.
Boustead has covered the genres over his 34 year career much of which is reflected in the album.
The title track, based on the chords of the Rodgers and Hart classic has a lyric by Boustead but, close your eyes and it could be Jon Hendricks, Mark Murphy or even, at a stretch, Mel Tormé. Cunliffe solos, arranges and Sheppard blows bop tenor. Think Marty Paich and you’ve got the idea.
Love Potion Number 9! Loved The Coasters recording – the lyric is out of this world – but never thought I’d hear it in a jazz context. A 6/8 jazz waltz with a touch of soul. B3 in there goosing it along.
Can you still buy bottles of the potion?
Let’s go out for Coffee is one of those contemporary lyrics that somehow catch the feel of today more than some of the better known GASbook items do. It's laidback and romantic with nice piano.
A must for every chanter/chanteuse.
I Won’t Scat has a Blossom Dearie feel to it but with B3 in there and it does have a few bars of some great scat!
Til Now (sic) a fluffy bossa with Passoni adding her vocal touches to Boustead’s.  If the album has a weak track this is it but, take it from me, it’s not that weak!
Autumn Leaves has Boustead vocalese - ing on a Chet Baker solo (he won’t scat but he will vocalese!) Tenor madness from Sheppard.
There's more much more. If this had been released in December it would be my vocal record of the year but, it's a long long time from January to December...
Lance.
Available - wait for it - on February 14. These marketing guys know their stuff.

1 comment :

Ron Boustead said...

Thank you for taking the time to listen to and write about my new CD, "Unlikely Valentine". We tend to create this music in our own little jazz vacuum, and it's always interesting and enlightening to hear reviews by objective, knowledgeable writers like yourself.
When you mention me in the same breath at Jon Hendricks, Mark Murphy and Mel Torme, you honor me more than you could know. All three are idols of mine, especially Murphy who I studied and emulated early in my career, and who took an interest in me and became, to some degree, my mentor.
I do love my new song "Coffee", so it's especially gratifying for you to single it out in the context of the Great American Songbook. I hope many other singer will take a crack at it.
And finally, I will remind you later in the year about your saying, "If this had been released in December it would be my vocal record of the year..."
Ron.

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