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Bebop Spoken There

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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.

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, September 29, 2013

CD Review: Paul Edis Not Like Me

Paul Edis (piano).
(Review by Russell)
Paul Edis deservedly won praise for his sextet’s debut album There Will Be Time and his first solo piano recording is set to win further plaudits. This review of twelve tracks (nine of them composed by Edis) was undertaken without the usual accompanying notes indicating titles and running times. So, in a blindfold test, what to make of it? The album title is intriguing… Not Like Me. Having heard Edis in concert on numerous occasions,  one observation is that this is just like him!

It is evident that a fine piano was at his disposal and Edis makes best use of it. The opening track signals a conversational style; simple right hand motif, left hand explorations and a wonderful sudden ending. Notes made during the second track read ‘ballad…flowing…contemporary composition’. But was this an original composition? Difficult to tell. A good sign. The first of the standards  - Round Midnight - features Edis’ thoughtful approach to classic jazz material. How to say something new about Monk.? Play the tune, let it happen. Edis does just that. 
Another Edis composition has the pianist under the lid to attend to the plumbing. A mid-tempo, down beat melody develops into complex textures, punctuated by a dark chord change, then another. Track five, hinting at My Favourite Things, highlights flowing two-handed piano as the composer gets inside the tune, thoroughly examining it with another great ending. 
A slower tempo number reveals the melody-rich Edis, the sort of tune a vocalist could pick up on. The seventh installment, with an element of nursery rhyme, hears solid two handed playing, sustained notes ringing out. The eighth reminds the listener of Edis’ classical background - an introspective intro of descending lines which wouldn't be out of place on the concert platform. 
My Favourite Things swings with a blues feel and a  touch of stride. Hear Edis play this live and you will struggle to suppress the cry Bravo!  The penultimate number has to be heard. Bring Me Sunshine is a tour de force; comic, pub sing-a-long, (the brilliant) Les Dawson and the equally brilliant Dudley Moore. Bravo!  The final composition sketches delicate improvisations across an uncluttered, quiet canvas. Not Like Me is, at present, available as a download. Essential listening. www.pauledis.co.uk
Russell.

2 comments :

Paul Edis said...

Thanks for the great review! Apologies for the lack of track listings - I thought I'd put a sleeve with the CD...in case you're still curious(?!) the tracks are as follows
1 Pulse
2 From Nothing to Nowhere
3 Round Midnight
4 Eastern
5 Not like me
6 For Bill
7 Vignette
8 Olivier
9 My Favourite Things
10 Beneath the Surface
11 Bring Me Sunshine
12 Sunrise
Thanks again!

Anonymous said...

I've occasionally heard Paul Edis play solo pieces at gigs where he is part of a group but sadly have never had the opportunity to get to one of his solo piano performances, so what a delight to discover he has made a solo album. I'm a CD (or vinyl) man myself but in this case an instant download was required. What a great album and what a variety of styles and influences! Russell did a very good job in his 'ears only' review picking up on the sources Edis has integrated into the tracks - Bill Evans, Monk, classical, improv, stride and I think I can hear Tatum come in the door a few times. However, while the shade of Les Dawson does hang over Bring Me Sunshine, surely the credit should go to Eric M and Andre Preview (and the notes are still not in the right order!).
JC

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