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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.

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Jenny Williams Quartet/Alec Harper Quartet @ The Spice of Life. May 9.


Jenny Williams (vcl); Ed Blunt (pno); Gili Lopes (bs); Dan Ingamells (dms).
Alec Harper (ten); Matt Robinson (pno); Calum Gourley (bs); Dave Hamblett (dms).
(Review by Lance). Photos by Joanna Wallfisch.
A two band session featuring two very different quartets. The opening set saw the very young looking Harper Quartet get things rolling, although not rocking, with an introspective original by the leader - Walking in a 
Foreign Land. Harper has a dry sound that suited the mood of the piece. Another original - The Last Episode - moved things up a notch with some  fast, hard-blowing tenor that would have done credit to Ernie Watts last night at Ronnie's. He dug in deeply justifying the applause that followed. Another epic performance came from pianist Robinson who displayed a Tyneresque approach that didn't hurt a bit.
A rather beautiful ballad - Everything I Love - displayed the romantic side then deeper emotions as it became climatic before subsiding back to tenderness. More emotive playing in a piece dedicated to Harper's late grandfather Toby followed by a journey to Never Never Land. Hamblett had a big feature on this one whilst Gourley steadfast and strong all night held everything together.
The Jenny Williaams Quartet, not surprisingly, centred around the leader's vocals. An American folksy jazz voice reminiscent at times of Joni Mitchell and other singers who I can't quite pinpoint Williams pitches perfectly even when shooting off at a tangent with some amazing vocalistics. Piano, bass and drums kept things moving along.
A varied program that included Nick Drake's Fruit Tree, a piece by Elisha Keyes, My Ship, Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps, The Magic of Love and Night in Tunisia. Alec Harper joined in on tenor for several numbers which added an extra dimension to the proceedings.
All in all another good night at The Spice although the attendance seemed to be a little below the norm.
Lance.

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