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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.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Zed-U @ Cluny 2. Tuesday March 29

Shabaka Hutchings (tenor saxophone, clarinet & electonics), Neil Charles (electric bass & electronics) & Tom Skinner (drums & electronics).
I rushed into The Cluny just in time for the start of the first set to find the place packed to the rafters. I quickly realised this couldn't possibly be a Schmazz gig. The Zed-U gig was in Cluny 2, the smaller satellite venue next door.
My arrival took the audience numbers above and beyond single figures - all things considered this was something of an achievement two days after the Gateshead Festival marathon.
Zed-U played with an undercurrent of dub reggae; Tom Skinner's constantly shifting patterns locked on to Neil Charles' hypnotic bass grooves. Shabaka Hutchings' saxophone and clarinet rode over the rock steady foundation producing occasional meditative sounds suggesting a Coltrane influence then it was all out biting tenor as the trio reached a crescendo before the sound dissipated into stillness.
The trio's sound was different to that of the Loop and F-ire Collectives. Bassist Charles, formerly of Empirical, was central to this welcome change of direction. Charles and Hutchings hail from Birmingham and were working in the same environment as Soweto Kinch before the bright lights of London beckoned. On the evidence of this Newcastle performance it was easy to understand why, at one point, Courtney Pine employed Hutchings. The Schmazz regulars lapped it up.
Russell.

3 comments :

Scott Fenner (on FB) said...

Another great gig I've missed that I had no idea about! I saw these supporting Ladyland in London in January, they were great. Would have loved have seen the Led Bib gig too but was busy and couldn't have gone even if I'd known about it. I've gotta start checking your site more often! Do you have a mailing list that has upcoming gigs?

Lance said...

I usually list gigs for the week ahead. A North-east jazz e-mailing service is available from
paulbream773@btinternet.com.

Roly said...

Hearing Russell's tale of the packed room I am reminded of a similar experience. The Clint Eastwwod film 'Bird' had just been released. With great anticipation we went to the local cinema complex first night, where there was a very long queue. I was impressed so many had come to see the film about the great man. Then came an announcement "will all those here to see 'A fish named Wanda' step this way please". You guessed it! Virtually everyone stepped that way, leaving only a paltry few waiting to see 'Bird'. Ah well - back down to earth with a bump.
Enjoyed the film.
Roly

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