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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.

Tuesday, September 06, 2016

CD Review: The Girshevich Trio - Algorithmic Society .

Vlad Girshevich (Piano, Synthesizers); Eddie Gomez (bass); Aleks Girshevich (drums)
(Review by Steve T)
Played this a couple of times a couple of weeks ago, then became distracted by leafleting, attending and reviewing Ushaw, before coming back to it, which can be an interesting exercise to see how much you've retained.
It's a piano trio but lets you know straight out there's also strings, though not on all tracks.
As with reggae and blues, there's much debate as to how successful this can be. John Holt tried it with reggae and the jury is still out, though it didn't catch on. It's broadly agreed that BB Kings' Thrill is Gone was a success but again, it hasn't caught on. Others will have better and more contemporary examples in Jazz, but Bird and Wes are obvious ones, with both generally deemed unsuccessful.  
My first encounter was the Ramsey Lewis album Legacy with one side (vinyl/cassette) Jazz Funk and the other an attempt to marry Jazz with classical music. At the time I loved it, as did a good friend of mine, but I hadn't yet found Cecil Taylor and acoustic Herbie, nor Stravinsky and Shostakovich. I heard it again recently and still quite liked it.
This album works really well and I found myself consciously listening for the presence of strings, the fusion seeming so seamless.
I read the notes after the first couple of plays and, when they referred to the Baroque influence specifically, I thought I needed to brush up on my Bach (not). However, when I came back to it, I had put this out of my mind but distinctly recognised 'old' classical music, particularly on Far Away Place and, with Gomez' bowed bass sounding distinctly like a cello on Song of an old Tree.
Unsurprisingly, classical piano came first for the leader before he discovered Jazz, and number one son and I both came up with Bill Evans, though neither of us are as familiar with his solo stuff as we should be. I also heard Chick Corea, particularly the classical leanings of the Jazz Rock version of Return to Ever. I'll also hazard an educated(ish) guess at Keith Jarrett though I'm probably as familiar with his solo stuff as I wish to be. 
It's a strong album, recommended to anyone with a penchant for Jazz piano, irrespective of their view on strings, however, the real miracle is his twelve-year-old son on drums. With Mathew and Abbie, we're well accustomed to 'special' young drummers around these parts, but this kid is incredible.
Also recommended to drummers everywhere, it's out now on Tapestry Records.


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