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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 08, 2013

CD Review : MYRIAD3 - TELL


(Review by Dave Brownlow)
Chris Donnelly (pno), Don Fortin (bass) and Ernesto Cervini (dms).
Donnelly is an acclaimed pianist/composer equally at home in jazz and classical music,
Fortin has a background of jazz and rock and Cervini, a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music plays in or leads several local ensembles. Fortin explains “with MYRIAD3, a lot of varied styles and approaches converge, and that makes for a very different music”. This is very true and the album by the recently formed Toronto based group is far from the usual piano/bass/drums trio in the jazz tradition It is more that bass and drums have equality with the piano and where each musician contributes as they “share ideas and craft each piece collectively”. There are frequent mood, tempo or style changes within each piece. Of the 11 tracks on the CD, the pianist contributes 4 originals, the bassist 3 the drummer 3 and there is 1 standard - Duke Ellington’s C Jam Blues.

Myriad has a jaunty almost “country” feel at the start and then goes through several mood changes which go in different directions. Fractured is an exploration of arpeggio figures which intertwine between bass and piano; slightly “Monkish” at times, it’s aptly named! For The Dreamers begins with a gentle “Satie”- like repeated phrase which develops in intensity with some clashing “Cecil Taylor”- like chords together with thrashing drums leading to a sudden conclusion.
C Jam Blues begins conventionally enough when suddenly after 45 seconds the tempo and chord sequence changes with the band speeding up and slowing down in a somewhat schizophrenic fashion. “Duke” would have been an interested listener to hear his song dissected like this…….Disturbing Inspiration is in two parts. In the first there are two contrasting themes – one peaceful, the other more aggressive- which the trio switch between several times. Part 2 begins with a bass vamp which quickly becomes more complex as drums and piano enter. The drummer shines on this one.
Tell uses a simple 12-bar blues chord structure but is unlike any blues I've ever heard. Drifters begins with an almost “Debussyian” repeated chordal motif with some lovely piano developments. Be Still And Yet opens with a bass/piano vamp which continues throughout with some tempo changes; meanwhile the drums scuttle and thrash around in the background in a frantic chase. Mr Awkward is a slightly more conventional blues which features a pleasant piano solo. The trio have fun at the end seemingly unable to finish the piece. An awkward chord won’t resolve……..
Donnelly introduces huge disturbing “Tyner”- like chords in his solo as it builds, fades and builds - again with thundering drums accompaniment.
Lament/PEX starts in a stately fashion using a repeating minor “ground bass” figure which builds in intensity concluding in a joyous “J.S.Bachian” – like cadenza with the band at full throttle.
Despite my early misgivings, I’ve grown to like many parts of this music through repeated listening. I suggest it may appeal to the jazz listener who also has some interest in various genres of classical music.
David Brownlow.
The CD MYRIAD3 – TELL was released in November 2012 on Alma Records LC 13990.

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