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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.

Monday, February 10, 2014

CD Review: Tord Gustavsen Quartet - Extended Circle

Tord Gustavsen – Piano, Tore Brunborg – Saxophones, Mats Eilertsen - Double Bass, Jarle Vespestad – Drums.
(Review by Steve H.)
Norwegian jazz tends not to be the wild swinging sort of music that originated from New Orleans;  in fact when you hear of Norwegian blues I’m sure  many people think of the legendary Monty Python parrot sketch . This album by Norwegian pianist Tord Gustavsen, his sixth for the ECM label, will not disavow you of any preconceived ideas about the Nordic interpretation of this musical art form. However,  for those who appreciate subtle, meditative, atmospheric and thought provoking music,  I can thoroughly recommend you give this genre a listen and hopefully it will have you ‘pining for the Fjords’.
We are lulled into this album with Right There a slow and gentle introduction played by the rhythm trio. The next song is a take on that well known Norwegian Hymn Eg Veit I Himmerik Ei Borg (A Castle in Heaven), the rhythm section take the early lead with Vespestad featuring prominently on snare, ushering Brunborg to perform a soaring emotional sax solo. Entrance is a short stark minimalist piece. The Gift , another trio piece is a mellow meditative ballad. Staying There, within  the context of this album,  is a lively funky number although even the ladies of Hoochie Coochie might struggle to dance to it. Back on calmer territory with Silent Spaces  which does what it says on the tin. A reprise of Entrance with more haunting Saxophone from Brunborg leads into Devotion another piece inspired by sacred music and if my local church offered peaceful inspired music like this I would be a regular attendee. The Embrace is almost a jolly tune and builds to a quite rousing, might I say, uplifting finale. The penultimate track Glow,  a powerful brooding quartet number, is preceded by  a short solo from bassist Mats Eilertsen  Bass Transition. The album finishes as it began with the return of the trio in The Prodigal Song  to send us away relaxed and calm as if we had just  spent a very rejuvenating  hour in the sauna. 
Steve H.

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