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Bebop Spoken There

Ambrose Akinmusire: “ I am certainly always aware of what the masses are doing. And when I see too many people going one way, I'm going another way - even when I don't know what's over that way". DownBeat, March, 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

Tue 19: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Tim Johnston.

Wed 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 20: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 20: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 21: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 21: Castillo Neuvo Trio + Conor Emery & His ‘Bones Band @ The Grove, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £10.00. (£7.00. student).
Thu 21: Remi Banklyn + Chris Corcoran Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.50. Chicago blues. An International Guitar Foundation promotion.
Thu 21: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Ragtime piano.
Thu 21: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 22: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 22: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 22: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 22: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 22: Nauta + Remy CB + Last Orders @ Hoochie Coochie, Newcastle. 8:30pm (7:30pm doors). Free.
Fri 22: Vasilis Xenopoulos-Paul Edis Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £15.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 22: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 23: Jambone @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Free (ticketed). End of term performance in the Northern Rock Foundation Hall.
Sat 23: Milne-Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 23: Red Kites Jazz @ Rowlands Gill Community Centre NE39 1JB. 7:00pm. Tickets: £12.00. (gibsidecommunityfarm@gmail.com). A ‘Build a Barn’ fundraiser. BYOB, tea/coffee available.
Sat 23: New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00. + bf (book in person at venue - no booking fee!). Featuring pianist Martin Litton.
Sat 23: Pete Tanton’s Cuba Libre @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 24: Musicians Unlimited @ Park Inn, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 24: Luis Verde @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. Verde (alto sax); Joe Steels (guitar); John Pope (double bass); John Hirst (drums). Alto sax brilliance!
Sun 24: Elsie Franklin @ The Globe, Newcastle. 3:00pm. £10.00. Country blues. An International Guitar Foundation promotion.
Sun 24: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay Metro Station. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: Las Vegas Live with the Rat Pack @ The Forum, Billingham.
Sun 24: Ian Millar & Dominic Spencer @ Otterburn Memorial Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Sun 24: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Note start time - 7:00pm.
Sun 24: Bold Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 25: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Friday, August 02, 2013

RIP Sheila Giles

It is with much sadness that I have to announce the death earlier today of former north east jazz singer Sheila Giles. Sheila was a regular performer on the Newcastle scene for many years in the 1950s and '60s and the Sheila Giles Band was well known on the north-east jazz club circuit. Her voice, very much Bessie Smith orientated, had a rich timbre that could fill a room with or without a microphone and was often compared with Ottilie Patterson.
Prior to becoming established in the jazz world Sheila sang with dance bands such as that of Johnny Openshaw at the Hedworth Hall South Shields.
In recent years she lived down south in the London borough of Ealing where she died in Hanwell House Care Home.
Sheila Giles was thought to be in her early eighties.
In her last hours it is reported staff played jazz records for her right to the end which is how she'd have wanted to go.
Sheila, I'll propose a toast to you tonight with a (virtual) Pigfoot and a (actual) Bottle of Beer.
Rest in Peace.
More photos.
Lance.
PS: I'm not certain of the source of the photo - it may have been John Taylor but it is accompanied by an, in retrospect, emotive message from David Hinge Sheila's ex husband. It was posted last year. 
I'd appreciate it if anyone with photos of Sheila could scan them to me for inclusion in this small tribute.

6 comments :

Steve Andrews said...

Sorry to hear that, Lance. I did lots of gigs with Sheila in the early 1970's, at Bamburgh's Music Hall, the Redhills in Durham with the Savoy Jazzmen (still got some rather grainy photos from 1974 of her singing with the band), and other places in the Newcastle area. She was great fun, and loved to sing slightly risqué songs such as "Ford Engine Movements in My Hips" and "She Had to Go and Lose It At The Astor". I, too, shall raise a glass to her!

Anonymous said...

Sad news. I well remember hearing Sheila singing at jazz clubs when I first got interested in the music. Later when I started playing I got to know her. She was a charismatic performer with a commanding presence and her great love of the music shone through. As has been said already she was very much in the Bessie Smith style. I've good memories of those days.
Roly

Margaret Barnes said...

Sheila and I were very close friends for more years than I care to remember. I have many happy memories of concerts and gigs as Sheila sang with local bands, as well as having her own band for a few years. In 1982 Sheila relocated to London where she gave several concerts. Her pianist at that time was the late Mick Pyne. Although during the last four years Sheila's health had deteriorated, we still managed to speak to each other regularly. I will miss her very much but I am so thankful our paths crossed all those years ago. RIP Sheila.

IndigoBuddha said...

I met Sheila in approx 1988 in London. We were attending a performing arts course in Westbourne Grove/ Ladbroke Grove. She had suffered damage to her nevk and vocal cords and was retraining her voice. One night in a pub where there was a live jazz group playing she got up and sang " Mad about the boy ""
It blew us off our seats. I remained friends with Sheila for a couple of years and then I immigrated. I often wondered about her and tonight I heard a jazz song that made me think of her so I googled her and found this news of her passing. Sad to hear it. A tiny lady with a massive voice. RIP.

Unknown said...

Do you have any recordings of Sheila singing? She was my great Aunty who I only met when I was very young and I would love to learn more about her.

Unknown said...

Helen Hayden. Can you contact me regarding Sheila as I may have some information for you.

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