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Bebop Spoken There

Simon Spillett: “ Bebop and hard bop came naturally to him [Tubby Hayes]". Morning Star, March 28, 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

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.
Fri 29: True Colours @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 9:00pm. Blues, jazz & swing.

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.

Thu 04: FILM: Soul @ Forum Cinema, Hexham. 2:00pm. Jazz-themed film animation.
Thu 04: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 04: Funky Drummer @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 04: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 04: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Saturday, August 17, 2013

Strictly Smokin' Big Band @ Tyne Bar

Michael Lamb, Tom Hill,; Gordon Marshall, Pete Tanton (tpts); Don Fairley, Peter Morgan, ? (tmb);  Steve Summers, Nadiah Killick (alt); Paul Gowland, Jamie Toms (ten); Laurie Rangecroft (bar); ? (pno); Ed Carr (gtr); Michael Want (bs); Guy Swinton (dms); Lindsay Hannon (vcl).
(Review by Lance).
The last time I stood in the rain listening to a big band was in San Sebastian in 1973. It was the Clark Terry Big Band. Sitting in front of me was Hugues Panassie the famous French jazz critic. He was comfortably ensconced under a golf sized umbrella - he didn't invite me to join him! I didn't care, the music drowned out the rain if you'll pardon that silly statement!
It was the same today - if it had been cricket when the heavens opened - players would have raced to the pavilion but Jazz musicians are made of sturdier stuff. Perhaps God really does think that jazz is the devils music?If this is the case then I'm afraid to say that, with a cagoule, an umbrella, and a pair of ears, the Devil won the day.
Strictly Smokin' really is a cracking band and to their credit they played as if it were a sunny, summer's day.
In a band like this packed with soloists it would be churlish to mention individuals but, being a churl, descended from a long line of churls, I must praise Pete Tanton's trumpet solos. Americans, somehow just have that edge to their playing. Perhaps it's the accent merging with the music that makes it so distinctively jazzy.
Leader Lamb's playing has developed  immensely over the years and he can hold his own in any section as either soloist or team leader. Don Fairly has been in enough big bands over the years to handle whatever comes along. Those saxes! Steve Summers, Paul Gowland, Jamie Toms and the lovely alto lady Nadiah certainly did the biz with Laurie providing the depth to the section.
Michael Lamb gave me the name of the keyboard player which, unfortunately was lost. midst the products of Wylam Breweries.
And on guitar Edd Carr! How great to again meet up with and hear Edd, who's taking a brief break from cruising the seven seas. He may have put on a pound or two but his playing has come on a ton!
Swinton on drums - why don't we hear more of him? Great to hear the Ellington/Bellson feature, Skindeep, again after many many years. Guy did it proud as indeed did the sections interpreting those tricky parts.
Lindsay Hannon sang superbly despite some early volume problems. The gal's  tops in my books and when the amplification was sorted on Too Darn Hot we just wished the weather was the same - in fact we wanted the Orange Coloured Sky that Lindsay sang about earlier!.
Smokin' or Customs House? Basie or Ellington? Newcastle or Sunderland? Who cares? let's just be thankful we have these choices to make.
Lance.

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