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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.

Monday, September 14, 2009

Review - Ruth Lambert's "Easy Street" *****

After a year of false dawns I am pleased to announce that, finally, the new Ruth Lambert CD is now available on the Jazz Action label. Every track is a gem and I make no apology for treating each one individually.
Easy Street: A totally relaxed and convincing Ruth accompanied only by Mark Williams on guitar. Never Will I Marry: One of Frank's 'Loesser' known tunes (sorry about that!). Up tempo with a sizzling tenor solo by Graeme Wilson. It's not an easy song to sing but Ruth's pitching is spot on. There's also a nice bass intro from Andy Champion. Beautiful Love: Victor Young's classic ballad. Piano, bass, drums backing. Sultry laid back vocal. Paul Edis piano solo - need I say more? Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend*: Whereas Marilyn insinuated and caressed the lyric, Ruth takes the no nonsense, straight talking, matter of fact approach and it works! Not least because of the Graeme Wilson arrangement for Splinter who provide the backing. Chris Hibbard solos on trombone. ‘Round Midnight*: The Splinter octet remain for this original take by John Warren of possibly the best known Thelonious Monk composition. If John had been American he'd be rated alongside Gil Evans and George Russell. Ruth's smoky vocal is perfectly suited to that time of the evening. Taking A Chance On love: More Mark Williams guitar with Graeme Wilson’s tenor and Andy Champion’s bass adding extra ambiance to Ruth’s vocal. Dindi: A Jobim tune, Mark Wlliams guitar chords and Ruth. Does anyone have a better recipe? Once again our girl displays her faultless intonation. Cry Me A River: After Julie London it takes guts to tackle this one but, with just Paul Edis’ backing, Ruth is up there with JL. Secret Love*: The octet kick this one along thanks once again to John Warren’s imaginative arrangement and some fine bass work from Andy Champion. Ruth re-fashions the song, cleverly steering it away from the cloyingness of the original. Love That Never Dies: Ruth’s own composition features Graeme Wilson, tenor, and Andy Champion, bass, as well a fine arrangement by Graeme. This is Always: Another beautiful guitar/vocal track. The Harry Warren/Mack Gordon song has had few better recordings not least because of Mark's sympathetic guitar work and Ruth's feeling for the lyric. West Coast Blues: Interesting to compare this version with Zoë Gilby’s. Z’s is a more laid back affair whereas R’s begins that way the entry of the horns builds it up to quite a frenetic state with a Graham Hardy trumpet solo that doesn't hurt a bit. I can happily live with them both Musicians: Graham Hardy (tpt), Graeme Wilson (ten), Paul Edis (pno), Mark Williams (gtr), Andy Champion (bs), Tim Johnstone (dms).
* Add Noel Dennis (tpt), Chris Hibbard (tmb), Adrian Tilbrook (dms).
If you enjoyed Ruth's previous album "So Many Stars" then you'll want this one.
Click here for Myspace samples.
The CD is now available from Ruth either at gigs or, from September 14, via her new website http://www.ruthlambert.co.uk/. The official launch of the CD is scheduled for October 23 at the Saville Exchange, North Shields. Watch this space for more details.
Lance.

1 comment :

Russell said...

Hi Lance

Ruth's new website looks great. I've been listening to the new tunes - all are excellent with some top arrangements. I can't wait for the gig at the Saville Exchange.

Russell

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