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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.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Pee Wee Ellis & Gareth Williams at Lanercost Priory October 16.

The sense of anticipation was enormous for me, this being my first opportunity to listen to some Jazz under the great rafters of Lanercost Priory and I wasn't to be disappointed!

Local heroine Roz Sluman and her band 'smoothed' their way onto the stage, very effectively set across the nave of the Priory, with a couple of classics including a spirited rendition of It could happen to you. Roz's comment that this was the first time she had not had to mic up the saxophone in such a large venue was borne out by the excellent and much talked about acoustics provided by the wonderful vaulted ceiling and ancient stones of the building. After a great up-tempo Bernie's Tune Roz treated us to a soulful version of Angel Eyes which really allowed the notes to soar to the beautifully worked wooden ceiling. Joined by vocalist Pete Hoban to end the set, the first half of the concert really demonstrated that the Priory could enhance all types of music

From the first number, Pee Wee Ellis treated us to a master class with melodious notes spilling out of his sax so fast, that even he admitted to showing off, just a little! He was clearly enjoying the venue, with the rich mellow tones of his playing filling the whole of the Priory with total ease. I had deliberately sat right at the back to test the acoustics and they didn't disappoint.

Interspersed with fascinating snippets about his life as a musician, including how he approached Sonny Rollins to give him a lesson when he was just 16, Pee Wee, accompanied on the grand piano in great style by Gareth Williams, took us through an eclectic repertoire from Herbie Hancock to Willie Nelson with some of his own material thrown in for good measure, all in his very individual style - including the singing!

He generously invited Roz and her band to join him on stage, with some fabulous duets between him and Roz, which clearly lifted her playing to another level and then closed the evening with a touch of James Brown, encouraging us to join in on the vocals!

A standing ovation was richly justified and the evening was, without doubt, another triumph of fundraising by David Gosling for that now prestigious jazz venue, Lanercost Priory! It all left me thinking - 'top that David' - and I'm sure he will. I look forward to it Sally Moon - BBC Radio Cumbria - 'And all that Jazz' programme.

Video of Roz and Pee Wee blowing on Now's The Time.

1 comment :

Lance said...

The superb photo sent to me by David Gosling is by Brampton photographer Al S. (All rights reserved.)

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