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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.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

CD Review - Julian Bliss: A Tribute to Benny Goodman.

Julian Bliss (clt); Neal Thornton (pno); Jim Hart (vbs); Martin Shaw (tpt); Colin Oxley (gtr); Tim Thornton (bs); Matt Skelton (dms).
(Review by Lance.)
Benny Rides Again! This tribute to the King of Swing is an absolute gem re-capturing perfectly the feel of those distant days. Based loosely on the Goodman Sextet although augmented, by the addition of Martin Shaw on trumpet, to a Septet to incorporate some of the big band material - the opening mix of Don't Be That Way and Stomping at the Savoy is particularly, and effectively, well done.

Bliss, better known as a classical clarinettist, turns his attention to the small group works of Benny Goodman just as BG himself made forays into the classical repertoire.
With a hand-picked team, the spirit of the thirties and forties exudes from each track without loss of individuality.
The leader, a child prodigy at 5 and now 23, displays an innate affinity to the music producing a near perfect clarinet sound and, despite his classical upbringing, no lack of swing. Jim Hart once again proves his ability to handle any musical situation although he has had previous experience of the Goodman canon with Alan Barnes. Colin Oxley, not unknown in this neck of the woods, slots easily into the Charlie Christian role with impressive soloing and comping whilst Martin Shaw plays himself not attempting to go down the brash Harry James/Ziggy Elman path. His poignant duet with Bliss on Goodbye conveys the sadness of the Gordon Jenkins' tune.
Neal and Tim Thornton (are they related?*) on piano and bass, alongside the ubiquitous Matt Skelton, fill out the rhythm section making this a very tight ship as indeed all Goodman units were.
The King is dead - Long live the King!
A worthy tribute.
Julian Bliss: A Tribute to Benny Goodman. Signum Classics.
Lance.
*Neal and Tim Thornton are father and son and this is their first record together.

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