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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.

Saturday, August 30, 2014

CD Review: Jacob Karlzon 3 - Shine

Jacob Karlzon (piano, keys, synths & programming); Hans Anderson (bass); Robert Mehmet Ikiz (drums).
(Review by JC)
Jacob Karlzon is a new name to me but he was initially widely known as a piano partner of Viktoria Tolstoy and he released a well-received debut trio record More in 2012. In the sleeve notes to this new album Shine he describes his aim as wanting to combine the best of two worlds: '- the openness, curiosity and energy of jazz, and the power, catchiness and the production techniques of pop'. At first glance this was not a project to set my pulses racing as it has never seemed to me a combination that enriches either genre. And this was confirmed somewhat by a number of the tracks that feature the piano/keys over the solid rhythm section and various background washes of synths and programming. Enjoyable but not particularly outstanding.
To my mind the more interesting tracks are later on the CD where the jazz influence dominates more. Inner Hills has a delicate, melodic feel and Screening Self creates a solid jazz-rock groove. The final track A Thousand Conclusions gives the bass player a chance to demonstrate his soloing abilities, something that is rare on the rest of the album.
Karlzon is clearly a very fine piano player and all of the tracks are his own compositions except for the U2 song I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For. However, there is a tendency in the unattributed sleeve notes to over-hype his work with, for example, the U2 song being described as 'this fragile, achingly beautiful solo-piano version' which, although very well played, seems a little excessive (although I should declare a bias here as the Irish popsters are not my favourite 'go to' composers). Karlzon himself is given to some new age philosophising and in explaining why Shine is the title of the album says: 'From a musical standpoint, a constantly changing glow permeates the entire album. I hope that this music helps each and everyone who hears it to shine a little in their daily life.' I couldn't help thinking that these descriptions were unnecessary and the music can stand on its own merits.
JC.
Jacob Karlzon 3 - Shine Released on ACT on September 15

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