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Bebop Spoken There

Simon Spillett: “ Bebop and hard bop came naturally to him [Tubby Hayes]". Morning Star, March 28, 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

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.
Fri 29: True Colours @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 9:00pm. Blues, jazz & swing.

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.

Thu 04: FILM: Soul @ Forum Cinema, Hexham. 2:00pm. Jazz-themed film animation.
Thu 04: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 04: Funky Drummer @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 04: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 04: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Jason Moran presents In My Mind: Monk At Town Hall


This was something else! A concert that surely ranks pretty close to the top of anyone's list; perhaps even higher than the 1959 concert it paid tribute to! I can't speak with any authority as I wasn't there and I'm not familiar with the Riverside recording from New York Town Hall--something I must rectify asap
However, despite all the Monkian connotations, to me the music bore a greater resemblance to the work of Charles Mingus which is nothing to be ashamed of. Indeed, the combination of Monk, Mingus and Moran could be said to be the equivalent of Bach, Bartok and Beethoven getting together to knock out a symphony.
The wall of sound from the nine piece was mindblowing, the impetus from the rhythm section hypnotic, and the piano work of Jason Moran, technically, far in advance of the Monk I've heard on record. To create the right ambience a screen showed faded images of Thelonious Monk and his early environment which, to be honest, I found slightly irritating at first. However, it gradually became an integral part of the presentation and at times added an extra dimension to the music
THE MUSIC
This was music to fuel an addiction to music.
No intermission, no interval chit-chat, just (just!) an hour and a half of sheer compulsion that left the audience as drained as the musicians marching out of the hall, still playing à la Hampton.
We thought it was all over.
Until we reached the bar.
Here, not only were they still playing but dancing and chanting as they played. We'd had the most beautiful, exotic, cake--now we were getting the icing!
For the record: Jason Moran (pno), Tarus Mateen (bs), Nasheet Waits (dms), Jason Yarde (alto), Denys Baptiste (ten), Byron Wallen (tpt), Fayyaz Virji (tmb) and Andy Grappy (tuba) were the names carved with pride.
The penalty shoot-out in the European Cup-final seemed tame in comparision.
Lance

5 comments :

Anonymous said...

Congrats on some inspired writing about Jason and the boys.
A most extraordinary evening indeed.

Anonymous said...

You certainly bring another dimension to these gigs with your excellent writings Lance. The North East seems to be awash with talent...not least yours!

Lance said...

The North-east certainly is awash with talent although, on this occasion, the talent was 33% American (piano, bass and drums)and 66% London based (horns).

Sarah R said...

The North-east certainly is awash with talent although, on this occasion, the talent is 25% humour (wordplay, personality) and 75% intuition (perception, interpretation) and 10% magnetism (regular readership, enchantment).

I'm nicely stranded in 2008, reading from the start; hours and hours of delectable posts to look forward to as I gaze upon appetizing titles to click. Bebop Spoken Here is an inspirational labour of love.

Sarah

Lance said...

Thanks Sarah R. I'm pleased these'labours of love' aren't lost.

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