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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.

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Watson Walker Edis @ The Lit & Phil. May 10, 2013


Lewis Watson (tenor saxophone), Rob Walker (drums) & Paul Edis (piano)
(Review by Russell - Photo by Jerry)
Another in the monthly lunchtime series of jazz gigs at the Lit & Phil and another full house. For some reason the jazz public has taken to the city centre venue from the get go; central location, a warm welcome from the Lit & Phil’s staff, quality bottled beers, tea, coffee and…top class jazz. It isn't rocket science, simply jazz.
The trio of Watson Walker Edis made its debut at the Lit & Phil something like two years ago and since then a further four or five performances (in Newcastle and at the recent Gateshead International Jazz Festival) have garnered glowing reviews. And so to this latest outing. Tenor saxophonist Lewis Watson was at pains to point out that the music was ‘difficult’, that melody would become apparent should the listener ‘stick with it’. Central to the performance was the spirit of Albert Ayler.
Compositions were shared between the three musicians. Two pieces - On the Plus Side (comp. Edis) and Bells 2 (comp. Walker) - played without a break, opened the programme, Watson’s rich, full tenor sound is that of the consummate working musician, drummer Rob Walker, perhaps best described as a ‘musicians musician’, exudes taste. A ‘listening’ player, reading the parts, creative and expressive, Walker is the perfect fit in this trio.
The Albert Suite, comprising nine parts, ran for something like forty five minutes. On In the Ether Walker played with open hand - palms, fingertips, then forearm, elbow, palm, fingertips. This was a superb demonstration of the art of the percussionist. Pianist Paul Edis immersed himself in the music, creating motifs, ascending, descending, as Watson’s authoritative tenor delved deep into Ayler territory. Carried on the Wind (comp. Edis) and another Edis composition - Rumbles - drew the best from Watson, then, the heart of the concert - Albert (comp. Watson) - drew the breath from the composer. Sustained intensity covering the free landscape sculpted by Coltrane and Ayler reaffirmed Watson’s pre-eminence in the ranks of the great tenor players. Watson Walker Edis perform together rarely. Each occasion is a treat.
Watch out for their next gig. If there is any justice then a CD recording should document the work of this trio. Gig of the year. 
Russell.                  

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