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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

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.

Monday, September 04, 2017

The Spirit Farm @ The Bridge Hotel, Newcastle – September 3

Christophe de Bezenac (alto sax); Adam Fairhall (keyboards); Corey Mwamba (vibes); Anton Hunter (guitar); Dave Kane (bass); Johnny Hunter (drums)
(Review by Steve H/Photo Ken Drew). 
On Sunday night, Jazz North East kicked off their new season and a near capacity crowd were treated to a right old humdinger of a gig. If Newcastle United could make signings like JNE then the Toon would soon be gracing the top of the Premier League.
Spirit Farm are the brainchild of keyboard player Adam Fairhall and the sextet are a kind of Northern based improvisers’ super group hailing from such ‘Northern’ outposts as Leeds, Manchester and Derby. To be honest it took me a few minutes to get into the action as the fairly introspective start took a while to latch on to but once I’d been hooked I was well and truly caught.

At times the music was truly explosive as the band cranked it up harder and harder yet there were moments of great subtlety and interplay between the group members in assorted combinations. During the interval, I told drummer Johnny Hunter how exciting the first set had been and he replied that he was worried that the band might have used up all their ideas such was the level of the improvisation. Luckily, the second set took off where the first left off and another brilliant and exhilarating set of improvised music ensued.
It would be impossible to single any player out as I thought they were all magnificent both in their solos and their ensemble playing. One or two people may have thought Corey Mwamba had gone a step too far when he attacked the vibes with his sandal but if that was what he felt was demanded at the time who am I to argue. Maybe we were lucky that no dead cat was lying around otherwise someone may have tried to improvise with that.
Joking aside, I absolutely marvel how these musicians were able to conjure up such exhilarating music clearly gaining inspiration from one another. The band’s own enjoyment of their performance was obvious to all and this enhanced further what had truly been a memorable evening.

Steve H.

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