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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, June 08, 2013

Northern Monkey Brass Band - The Boiler Shop, Newcastle.

Graham Hardy, Alistair Lord (tpt); David Gray, Mark Ferris (tmb); Jamie Toms (ten); Brendan Murphy (bass drum); Alex Tustin (snare dm); Phil Rosier (tuba).
(Review by Lance)
This was the third of the monthly "Steamers" held in "The Robert Stephenson Boiler Shop" and the first one that I'd attended - or even heard of!
As the venue's name implies, in Victorian times, Robert Stephenson, son of George Stephenson, produced locomotive parts including boilers which led to the family becoming world leaders in the early days of locomotion.
On a sunny day like today, midst the beer, food and other attractions it was hard to imagine its industrial past although, take away the bars, the food stalls and the bric-a-brac, the fading walls and the iron girder beams may well have reminded you.
I digress.
Settled at a table with a pint of Wylam Centenary Ale, a fish finger sandwich - cooked and breadcrumbed before my very eyes - the Stephenson ghosts disappeared to be replaced by the sound of bass and snare drum, a trumpet fanfare and the sound of marching feet.
"Hey Hey we're the Northern Monkey Brass Band..."
It was a grand entrance. they marched and played through the drinkers and diners before forming a circle in front of the stage. Do What you Want to was the tune and they did just that!
On stage they played Horndoggin' - a reference to their name in a previous incarnation. Jamie Toms took the first solo and set the ball rolling for lots more throughout the afternoon.
What a Friend We Have in Jesus began Sally Army Style - albeit with growl trumpet from Graham - before settling into a relaxed New Orleans' Swing.
Hey Jude, Funky Pie and a Melon Felony were other numbers that scored.
Drummers Brendan and dep Alex had a good workout.  Tuba soloed like I would imagine Cat Anderson soloing if he'd played tuba with Ellington and the trombones were superb in solo and duet.
Too soon the set was over - there were many other bands and artists to follow but this would be a hard act...
Best afternoon I've had since last Sunday at the Green Festival! I'll be interested to see the lineup for next month.
Photos.
Lance.
PS: Robert Stephenson may have been, and indeed was, an industrial giant, but the NMBB are giants in their own field! 

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