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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.

Sunday, August 09, 2015

Remembering Ray Truscott @ Jazz Café


(Report by Lance)
This was quite an afternoon/early evening. Up the road "The Toon" were, alternatively, losing, drawing, winning, drawing but here in The Caff everyone was winning. We were here to celebrate the legacy of Ray Truscott - 6 string bass guitarist extraordinaire. The invited audience of friends and fellow musicians were treated to an afternoon of excellence with the house quartet of Paul Gowland (ten/alt); Pete Gilligan (pno); John Pope (bs gtr); Paul Wight (dms) laying down a very high benchmark.
In the case of John Pope it was almost as if Ray was beaming down inspiration from 'up there'! John may have opted for a four string Fender Jazz as opposed to Ray's six string bass but the feeling was 'at times', almost identical.
Bradley Johnston brought his guitar to the party and Dave Weisser brought his cornet and Lady Jude came with him.
Jude sang Like Someone in Love and Dindi - throwing in a flute chorus on the latter number. Those that didn't know Jude prior to today certainly wanted to know more - the best kept vocal secret around!
Could anyone follow that? Well, er, yes! Dave Weisser, Jude's long time partner, gave us a take on Nature Boy that decreed honours were even in that household!
Everyone was at the top of their game - they had to be! With an audience of whom 95% were musicians there was little room for error.
Barry Ascroft warmed the keyboard stool, as did Alan Law. Findens Fi and Stu took Secret Love around the block and Fi's version of You Don't Know What Love is hit the heartstrings of everyone who could equate with that statement!
Ray Burns, sans harmonica, sang Sweet Lorraine - my favourite chord sequence - before giving out with Body and Soul.
Zoe Gilby swung through Lullaby of Birdland and emoted God Bless the Child. Kath Jobes rounded things off with Bye Bye Blackbird - Kath too has moved up the pecking order.
Then, just as I was bidding farewell to Ray's wife Sylvia, the band played My One and Only Love. Sylvia's tears were understandable - and infectious.
It was a great tribute to a most lovable/likeable man. If you've got to go this is the way to do it. Friends paying their respects by playing and listening to the music we all love.
RIP
Photos.
Lance.
PS: It should also be noted that Ray was remembered not only as a bass guitarist but also as fine composer. Several of his compositions were included in the program - Requeros and Four Miles being two of them. 

4 comments :

Hilary Say (on F/b) said...

Sorry I wasn't well enough to attend. Ray, Sylvia, Mike and I were all great friends in the old days. Lots of wonderful photos from Muggleswick to confirm this. Zoe was just a little girl then.
R.I.P. Ray, gone to join that great jazz gig with the wonderful musicians who went before you.

Mal Maddock (on F/b) said...

Oh dear lord..... I didn't even know Ray Had passed away !

Anne DeVere Harper (on F/b) said...

Thanks Lance......this made me feel I was there! Xx

Jude Murphy (on F/b) said...

It was a privilege to be there - a very special day, with Sylvia and so many of his friends remembering a brilliant bloke.

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