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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.

Friday, December 08, 2017

The Zoë Gilby University Group - “Constellation Jam" @ Jazz Café - December 1

Zoë Gilby (Mentor and Vocals) / Grace Alexander (Keyboard) / Ross Barnes (Bass) / Oliver Cobb (Guitar) / Amber Cox (Vocals) / Will Earl (Drums & Percussion) / Chris McMahon (Drums & Percussion)
 (Review/photos by Ken Drew)
“For the past four weeks, vocalist and songwriter Zoë Gilby has been running a series of workshops for the postgraduate music students of Newcastle University, culminating in this final performance for the students "History of Jazz" module.  Also, as part of Jazz North East’s ‘Women Make Music' series, this composition Constellation Jam illustrates the evolving nature of jazz.  Accepting no boundaries, the constant progression of this particular genre of music has entertained and inspired modern popular music and beyond.  The concept of this piece highlights the importance and integral need for jazz to be always changing. Often not to everyone’s taste, but never compromising, always a curious adventure.”
Not only was this the first performance of this piece, they were being videoed too. Also, the young performers were being assessed as part of their degree course as they played!   Over four workshop sessions with Gilby, in as many weeks, they wrote this piece about the history and evolution of Jazz.  Starting straight in with a song led by Cox which developed nicely with Earl and McMahon providing the rhythm and Barnes solidly on bass.  This was an intriguingly catchy tune, simple but very effective, giving quite a powerful start.  Then into a slower section of improvised vocalese with Gilby leading and bringing out the improvised nature of the piece. It soon became apparent that there were several sections to this single piece, so, many segues ensued, including some vocalese from Gilby.

Then a long section of keys (Alexander) and guitar (Cobb) followed by percussion, building to a crescendo with all, then onto a gentle, quiet song eventually building to its own crescendo. This then segued into a sole percussion section (notwithstanding the vocal contributions from Gilby and Cox). The final section was a good combination of improvisation including spoken word which gave quite a contemporary urban feel to the piece, slowing down and finally fading to a close.

Overall, there seemed to be a good level of improvisation during the piece, with a well-composed structure, and a nice ‘feel’ to it throughout.  The six music students worked hard, concentrating even harder and working well together as the piece progressed. Their leader/mentor was always there to guide, occasionally leading, but always inspirational. It would have been interesting to have been at the four workshop sessions which led to this performance just to see how the individuals, the group overall and the final composition had developed. But their live performance was fine and well appreciated by the audience.  Possibly two small things to comment on. The sound balance across the band could have been a little better, although I don’t think we missed anything. And maybe each performer could, in general, have given a bit more dynamic expression to give a bigger impact to their contribution and to the overall sound of the piece.  Maybe this translates to playing to the audience rather than across the stage.  Still, what a terrific 45-minute uninterrupted piece, and all their own work!!!

Afterthought:   This long piece made a big impact, and is worthy of being heard again. Hopefully, it will. And given that these young players are still on their Uni music course, this could perhaps be quickly followed by a day in the recording studio to give them the experience too of producing their very own CD. Just sayin’.  Hopefully, it could happen!
Ken

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