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Bebop Spoken There

Béla Fleck: “ And that's the great thing about live performances, you take people on a journey. It doesn't have to be like something else they've heard. It's not supposed to be". DownBeat, April, 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.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Joscho Stephan Trio at the Customs House, South Shields.

Joscho Stephan (ld/gtr), Gunter Stephan (rhm/gtr), Max Schaaf (bs).
I sometimes think that Django Reinhardt has spawned more disciples than Lester Young and Charlie Parker combined. If they all turn out to be like Joscho Stephan then so be it - bring 'em on.
I haven't actually heard too many of the acolytes but, on tonight's performance, surely Joscho must be amongst the front runners?
To describe his technique as dazzling or awesome doesn't cut it - they are merely inadequate words although they do apply. I prefer Hors de cette monde. Somehow the French 'out of this world' gets to the heart of his music.
Naturally, there was a lot of Djangology but there was also a piece by the Argentinian, Oscar Aleman, an incredible Chet Atkins type workout on "Main Street Breakdown", a helter-skelter version of Mozart's "Rondo a la Turk" and an uppish "You Made Me Love You." One number even managed to include a well known Cream riff. Adding Benny Goodman's arrangement of "The World is Waiting for the Sunrise", "Limehouse Blues and "Sweet Georgia Brown" produced another superlative - Phew!
Of course it wasn't all Formula One - a beautifully relaxed "C'est Si Bon", an original - didn't catch the name but it gave me goosebumps - "Nuages" (naturally) and "J'attendrai" this latter tune featured Max Schaaf on stick bass.
Max and Gunter, Joscho's father, on rhythm, kept the whole thing together for what was the culmination of one of the best week's listening I have had in recent memory!
The only disappointment tonight was the failure of 'The folks of Shields' to turn out in their masses; 'twas their loss. Those that did make it showed their appreciation by the volume of their applause that could barely have been exceeded by a full house. Catch the trio at Alnwick on March 3rd or at Leeds tomorrow (Sunday). Miss them at your peril. Photo.
Earlier, in the Alum House pub, we had been "entertained" by some Morris Dancers.
Lance
PS: He opened the show with "Django's Tiger". Thanks Kev for forwarding this clip.

1 comment :

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a great gig. I really enjoyed reading (& living) your report. I forwarded it to my bro Les & to my son Kevin, they will appreciate it.

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