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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, February 09, 2013

Alister Spence Quartet + Watts and Weston @ Lit & Phil Feb. 8

Alister Spence (piano & keyboards), Raymond MacDonald (alto & soprano saxophones), Joe Williamson (double bass) & Chris Cantillo (drums) + Trevor Watts (alto & soprano saxophones) & Veryan Weston (piano)
(Review by Russell)
The Lit and Phil hosted a return visit by pianist Alister Spence. The Australian decided to forsake a southern hemisphere summer for a British winter to tour once again with his international quartet – Scot Raymond MacDonald, Canadian Joe Williamson and from Sweden Chris Cantillo. Spence’s previous visit to Newcastle drew a full house and this time around there was a similar healthy turn out.
The expectant crowd got in early knowing that an additional treat was in store. Veteran improvisers Trevor Watts and Veryan Weston renewed acquaintance in an enthralling one set performance. No sound check, no rehearsal, just a ‘let’s do it’ attitude. Master musicians, familiar with one another’s musical language, pieces developed intuitively, threading a linear cat and mouse chase into spontaneous composition. Their set was, deservedly, warmly received.
The Lit and Phil had celebrated a birthday the previous day - 220 not out - and the forward looking cultural institution should be congratulated for hosting, with no little enthusiasm, contemporary jazz in an increasingly busy building. The library and its rooms are booked weeks and months ahead with a wide range of events, activities and gatherings - earlier in the day pianist Paul Edis launched a new monthly lunchtime jazz gig with a tremendous turn-out to hear the top-class Zoe Gilby Trio and the following night there is an all-night ghost hunt! Each to their own, as they say.
So to Alister Spence. Think Brubeck and the new generation - Mehldau, EST - add a little bit of Spence (he isn’t afraid to fuse the acoustic with the electronic). Double bassist Joe Williamson is the classic bass player – unperturbed with all that’s going on around him and drummer Chris Cantillo is another new generation player in possession of amazing technique - he will clatter when so inclined and then give it the feather-light touch in the style of James Maddren (another star performer heard at the Lit and Phil and elsewhere on Tyneside). The presence of Raymond MacDonald is a real treat - amiable, unassuming and a first rate musician. Composed, improvised, inside or out, MacDonald is your man. Spence’s compositions tend to be reflective, thoughtful pieces with a slow burning fuse and just occasionally there is an incendiary outburst rivalling the Sydney Harbour New Year firework display and MacDonald is invariably the Guy Fawkes villain/hero.
Sales of CDs all but sold out (the same thing happened during Spence’s previous visit). The concert was a Jazz North East promotion and their next one is next Wednesday (13 February), once again at the Lit and Phil, featuring two rising stars of the British scene; pianist Robert Mitchell and charismatic vibes man Corey Mwamba. An intriguing aspect of this gig will be a solo set by Mitchell during which he will play left hand only. You have to be good to attempt this in public! The two-handed Mwamba will play vibes using four if not six mallets and occasionally none! Get along to the gig - seeing and hearing is believing!
Russell            

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