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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.

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Jazz Co-op @ The Globe: Blue Jazz Sextet/Off Key - September 20

George Anyfantis (keys); Keith Barrett (guitar); Karen Rann (sop sax); Jeff Smith (ten sax); Dave Parker (bass); Mark Robertson (reader, guest drummer); Off Key (novel)
(Review by Ann Alex/Photo courtesy of Debra M)
It’s not often that a novel is part of a jazz band, but tonight it was the star of the show.  The second set consisted of relevant tunes, interspersed with readings from Mark, the author of Off Key, who hopped between the drum kit and the reading stool, even breaking into song during one of the readings, a well-sung snatch of Skylark.
This was a very enjoyable event, especially for those of us who’d read the novel, which is summed up well by the front cover description ‘The greatest story ever told about Love ...and Jazz (in Sunderland).’ I’d advise everyone not to miss out on this really good read, a love story with some pathos, and even a character called Crombie in one scene.
The readings were carefully arranged so that no spoilers were given. The members of the jazz band in the novel were described, hilarious episodes were read, such as the skeleton practical joke and the night the band played at a male strippers do.  Sadder pieces included a quarrel  that the lovers had about money.  The supporting music included such numbers as Scrapple From The Apple; Perdido; Blue Trane; Work Song and a superb version of Skylark, with a soulful tenor opening from Jeff, flowing piano and suitably gentle drums.  The music was skilled, as always from this band, right through to the final chord played long and strong from everyone.
In the first set, the band did their stuff well on such numbers as Softly As In A Morning Sunrise; a wonderfully boppy I Mean You; Footprints; Take The A Train; Song For My Father; Tenor Madness.  Good solos all round.  I especially liked Footprints, which had an eastern type of feel, especially from the saxes, and was dream-like and even slightly disturbing.  The newer members of the band, Keith on guitar and George on keys, did themselves credit in their solos. Readers will have gathered that the Blue Jazz Quintet is now a sextet, and none the worse for that.
Ann Alex    

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