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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, February 10, 2018

CD Review: Dan Pugach Nonet - Plus One

(Review by Dave Brownlow)
Let’s get one thing quite clear from the start – this is an excellent album of modern/contemporary jazz played by a Nonet plus One of first-rate musicians who are not only terrific soloists but fine readers capable of playing and interpreting Dan Pugach’s complex charts. Dan is the bandleader/drummer/arranger/composer/ who’s been working at a high level in the jazz business since completing his Batchelor’s and Master’s degrees at Berklee and The City College of New York. As a composer/arranger, Dan brings such a freshness and imagination to the music rarely found today and as a drummer, he’s full of energy, driving the band, inspiring his soloists and occasionally soloing fiercely himself.
Brooklyn Blues is a rousing opener having a ‘funky’ groove providing opportunities for lively blues solos from trombone, baritone, drums and piano interspersed with tightly played ensemble sections. Coming Here is a medium-tempo original which has some lovely “Gil Evans-ish” harmonies and movement and features Ingrid Jensen’s first solo spot. She is now a quite outstanding trumpeter, playing with a warm burnished tone, swooping, gliding with great dexterity throughout the ranges of the horn with the fluency of (say) Kenny Wheeler or the great Fats Navarro. An expansive tenor solo follows driven by the leader through some fearsome note-reading by the band to a “Mulligan-esque” final chord.
Dolly Parton’s Jolene features Pugach’s wife Nicole Zuratis (described by the drummer as “my secret weapon”) in the first of four vocals of the album - which she also arranged herself. Carmen Staaf has the piano solo with echoes of McCoy Tyner in there. Ingrid again shines before a moving final conclusion
Zelda a gentle original ballad features David Smith on flugelhorn – another formidable talent, who’s clearly inspired by the arrangement. A blues-tinged Belo’s Bellow has a flowing alto solo from Andrew Gould with Staaf on electric piano providing another tone-colour. Chick Corea’s Crystal Silence has Nicole taking the vocal in an “operatic soprano style” which is surprising – but it works! There’s tenor sax, ensemble passages, a bass contribution before a final re-visit to the theme. Quincy Jones’ lovely song Love Dance is Nicole’s next vocal, this time back in ‘jazzy’ mode again. Smith makes two contributions to this track with astonishing virtuosity. Our Blues co-written by the husband and wife team is a down-home 12-bar blues which really gets to the bottom of the matter.  Nicole lays down the law here “I’ve got some news before I kick you out – You’re much more clever when you shut your mouth!” Gorgeous ensemble passages, a low-down piano solo from Staaf and a tenor solo add to the story. The closer Discourse This is a contemporary Pugach composition in several parts. Smith on trumpet has the up-tempo first segment, Gould on alto the slower middle section leading to a drums-led finale. Ambitious writing challenges the band throughout which makes for an exciting, abrupt ending. “The Sound Of Surprise” appears in every track!
Totally recommended, a rare 5 stars from me!
Released on February 16 by Unit Records UTR 4816 or at www.danpugach.com
Dave.
Ingrid Jensen or David Smith (tpt/flugel); Mike Fahie (tmb); Jen Hinkle (bass tmb); Andrew Gould (alto/flute); Jeremy Powell (tnr/clar); Anthony Gutauskas (bari/bass clar); Nicole Zuraitis (voice); Carmen Staaf or Jorn Swart (pno); Tamir Schmerling (bass); Bernardo Aguiar (pandiero); Dan Pugach (dm/composer/arranger/leader).

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