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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.

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.

Thursday, October 26, 2017

CD Review: Courtney Pine - Black Notes From The Deep

Courtney Pine (tenor/bass flute/EWI); Omar (vocal); Robert Mitchell (piano ); Alec Dankworth (bass); Rod Youngs (drums) + Ed Bentley (organ - 1 tk); Chris Cobbson (guitar - 1 tk); Charleen Hamilton (backing vocals),
(Review by Lance).
Kill the fattened calf, the prodigal son has returned! Yes, after ten years in the wilderness squandering his talents on soprano saxophones and bass clarinets, Courtney has returned to his first love, the tenor saxophone. Let jazz fans rejoice and spread the word across the land - Courtney's back and blowing better than ever. Perhaps the bass clarinet years were a form of sabbatical where he sought to rediscover his inner soul before coming to the conclusion that it was time to not just get back into the race, but to win it.
Soulful tenor, tender at times, full of emotion but, when the going gets tough, he's as tough as any tenor ever. Tremendous playing - a bass clarinet just can't handle this much heat even though CP coped with it better than most. Bass flute is more to my ears and, On a Change is Sure to Come, it fits the mood to perfection.
You'll gather that I'm impressed! However, don't go away thinking this is all about the tenor saxophone. No sir! Four tracks feature vocals by Omar. At the recent Sage Gateshead concert Russell, like Stevie Wonder before him, was particularly impressed by the soul singer - You and Stevie Wonder, Russell - On the strength of this album, me too!
Robert Mitchell has never made a bad record in his life (if he has then I haven't heard it) and I doubt if Courtney could have found anyone more compatible. Dankworth and Youngs do what's asked as they always do. Special mention also for Cobbson's guitar solo on The Morning After the Night Before.
I initially viewed the album with some trepidation which, by this time, you'll have gathered turned out to be totally unfounded. So much so, I can't wait to play it again even though I've got a double CD by Cécile McLorin Salvant waiting in the wings!
Lance.

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