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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.

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

CD Review: Fred Hersch - Solo

Fred Hersch (pno).
(Review by Dave Brownlow).
An album of solo piano recorded live at Windham Civic Centre Concert Hall in New York to kick-off a year-long celebration of his 60th birthday with appearances, projects and this CD - Fred Hersch’s tenth solo recording proof that he’s now more than capable of working without the “safety-net” of a rhythm section or other players. 
In the history of jazz, it could be argued, that very few pianists could really play solo successfully and satisfyingly. Tatum, Peterson, Jarrett – those with a formidable technique. Hersch, also, belongs in that stellar group; he’s a master-musician with a style uniquely his own incorporating a wonderful harmonic sense, swing, humour, touch at the keyboard, emotion and lyrical improvisations. The album comprises a set of pieces that are typical Hersch – Kern, Tizol, Monk, Jobim and Joni Mitchell plus a couple of Hersch originals.
The recital begins with a medley of Jobim’s Olha Maria and O Grande Amor. Both are beautifully re-harmonised with “surprises” that blend in with the original rich chords. If Claude Debussy were alive today, this would be the way he'd play these songs!
Caravan offers complete contrast. Juan Tizol’s song has had many exotic interpretations, none more so than this one. Fred picks out melody notes from all over the keyboard, completely unconventionally, but to these ears, just right. Juan and Duke would smile at this performance!  Pastorale, the first of the Hersch originals is a beautifully constructed, lilting tribute to Robert Schumann. He makes the piano “sing” – reminiscent of some of Keith Jarrett’s extraordinary adventures in harmony and keyboard mastery.
Whirl is the second original and we’re soon in a vortex of flowing improvisation where Fred loses himself in a headlong display of melody, counter-melody and bravura technique.
The Song Is You opens with a reflective, out-of-tempo, intro which gradually morphs into the well-known song beloved of many jazzers because of its ‘interesting’ chord sequence. Fred’s version gently flows through the modulations with great imagination and sensitivity. Monk’s In Walked Bud is played at a lively tempo with vigour and humour; at times Fred plays with hands seven octaves apart – quite a feat! Homage indeed to Thelonious and Bud from one of today’s gifted artistes. Joni Mitchell’s Both Sides Now closes the CD almost with reverence and delicacy yet with strength. I think that Fred chooses his standards carefully and must know the words of the songs – as Pres did – because of the depth of feeling he puts in to the performances.
Dave B.
Fred Hersch SOLO (Palmetto 180) will be available from September 4  from Palmetto   Definitely one of my albums of the year!

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