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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.

Sunday, July 04, 2010

VOTNJO - Splinter @ The Bridge

Graham Hardy, Sean Hollis, Shaun Eland, Jud Downs (tpt/flg). Alex Leathard, Keith Norris, Caroline Norris, (tmb), Alan Bravey (bs tmb). Katie Hawcutt (fl), Rod Mason (alt/sop), Andy Bennett (alt/clt), Lewis Watson (ten/sop), Sue Ferris (ten/fl), Niall Armstrong (bar). Stu Collingwood (keys), Mark Williams (gtr), Andy Champion (bs), Adrian Tilbrook (dms). John Warren and James Hamilton (MD/Arr/Comp)
An evening of such sheer delight that the only let down lay in the failure of Roget's Thesaurus (4th edition) to provide adequate superlatives - I seem to recall Johnny Mercer finding similar shortcomings in Webster's Dictionary.
Lewis Watson as always excelled on tenor and soprano although super slim Sue Ferris also had impressive moments. Rod Mason whizzed around on alto and curved sop and Andy Bennett too let fly early on. Guesting with the reeds was flautist Katie Hawcutt who was heard to good effect on the Causeway Suite of which more later.
Both Graham Hardy and Jud Downs made their mark on trumpet and flugel but this band isn't just a collection of soloists strung together - it is a cohesive unit that, in the strength of its ensemble playing alone, must be comparable with any band anywhere. In the confines of the upper room at the Bridge Hotel it is mind-blowing (in the best possible sense).
Credit for this must be accorded the laconic, laid-back, John Warren.
His compositions and arrangements have, as ever, provided the backbone of the organisation's pad.
Tonight however, John willingly shared the limelight with James Hamilton a young, Leeds based Irishman whose arrangements and compositions were worthy of someone twice his age.
I don't know how old James is but I'd guess late teens early twenties - it is irrelevant - his music bears the mark of experience and maturity, an amazing achievement at any age.
Tonight's second set was built around the aforementioned Causeway Suite inspired by the stone pillared natural wonder in Antrim (I think). This suite may well be considered one of the natural wonders of the musical world.
Adrian Tilbrook, drummer and driving force behind this amazing organisation, enthused about James Hamilton prior to the concert - as is his wont - and his plaudits weren't misplaced as the six movements unfolded in a tapestry of colour and contrast, excitement and evolution - musical mastery.
A fitting way to bring the first Splinter season to a close.
Lance

1 comment :

Russell said...

Hi Lance

What a place to hear the Voice of the North! Small room, loud big band! It shouldn't work but it does - here's to the next time.

Russell

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