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Bebop Spoken There

Sullivan Fortner: ''I always judge it by the bass player: If the bass player is happy, it's going to be a good night". (DownBeat, February 2025).

The Things They Say!

This is a good opportunity to say thanks to BSH for their support of the jazz scene in the North East (and beyond) - it's no exaggeration to say that if it wasn't for them many, many fine musicians, bands and projects across a huge cross section of jazz wouldn't be getting reviewed at all, because we're in the "desolate"(!) North. (M & SSBB on F/book 23/12/24)

Postage

17822(and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 143 of them this year alone and, so far, 68 this month (Feb.25).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Jamie McCredie @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. THIS WEEK ONLY JAMES BIRKETT (guitar)!
Fri 28: Luis Verde Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Knats @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £11.50. (inc bf.). Album launch gig. Support act TBC.
Fri 28: Black is the Color of My Voice @ The Gala, Durham. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman show inspired by the life of Nina Simone, performed by Florence Odumosu.
Fri 28: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival: Musicians Unlimited @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 8:00pm. £10.00. (Weekend ticket £20.00., available on the door). Day 1/3. Musicians Unlimited in concert.
Fri 28: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

MARCH 2025

Sat 01: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 11:00am. £15.00. Day 2/3.
Sat 01: TJ Johnson Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 01: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £25.00. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. Get your funk on! Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 01: Shunyata Improvisation Group @ The Watch House, Cullercoats. 2:00-3:30pm. Free.
Sat 01: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers. Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Lapwing Jazz Trio @ Three Sheets to the Wind, Alnwick. 5:15pm or 5:45pm (times tbc). Part of the Alnwick Story Festival's music fringe programme: Free.
Sat 01: Struggle Buggy @ The Peacock, Sunderland. 6:00pm. Blues band.
Sat 01: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Joseph O’Brien: The Ultimate Tribute to Frank Sinatra @ Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm. O’Brien & seven piece band (inc. Wendy Kirkland, Jim Corry & Pat Sprakes).
Sat 01: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 01: Jack & Jay’s Vintage Songbook @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 02: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 11:00am. £10.00. Day 3/3.
Sun 02: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 02: Nauta @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00.
Sun 02: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free (donations).
Sun 02: Side Café Orkestar @ Café Under the Spire, Derwentwater Road, Gateshead. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 02: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 02: Milne Glendinning Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 6:30pm.
Sun 02: Bella by Barlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 02: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Spittal Bowling Club, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 02: Ali Watson Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 03: Milne Glendinning Band @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00. at the door; £8.20. (inc £0.20 bf) online, in advance.
Mon 03: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 04: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Victoria & Albert Inn, Seaton Delaval. Tel: 0191 237 3697. 12:30pm. £8.00. ‘Jazz ‘n’ Pancakes’.
Tue 04: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Stu Collingwood, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.
Tue 04: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:30pm. Free.

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

Thursday, April 26, 2012

R.I.P. Derek Bridge.

(By Peter Ayton) (Photo courtesy of former BBC producer George Lambelle and BBC Radio Teesside.. Derek Bridge is  pictured at the rear in the centre. behind the seated George Lambelle.)
Derek was born in Brighton and, as a youth, went for lessons to the  same sax teacher as Barbara Thompson and indeed knew Barbara through this. As a young sax player he performed  in various palais  bands of the day - In particular The ‘Denis Langford Band’. Whilst playing  with these various  orchestras, he came to  blow alongside such notable musicians  as drummer/keyboard player Garry Husband  and the great tenor sax player, Red  Price.  Derek eventually went on to work and tour extensively  with Adam Faith’s  band .

His calligraphy  was second to none and he secured a job writing arrangements and parts for the famous ‘Pop Plan’ music publishers based in  in Leeds. 
Derek  met his wife Wendy and made his way to Redcar and eventually in Yarm. 
I first came across Derek when he became conductor and M.D for the Middlesbrough Musicians Union Big Band.  By this time he had become  a very successful instrumental teacher, proving to be very popular  amongst his  pupils/students with his lovely, superlative, relaxed  manner .
What will I personally remember Derek for!? Well   he was a great musician, had a wonderful sense of humour, and really ……just one of the nicest guys I ever met .  Thoughts go out to Wendy and family at this time.
Peter Ayton.
Derek's funeral service is to take place in the chapel of Fawcett & Hetherington Funeral Service, King George House,92 High Street Eston,TS6 9EG on Monday April 30 at 1.00pm prior to burial at Yarm Cemetery.

3 comments :

George Lambelle. said...

Derek Bridge was the leader of Middlesbrough Big Band, also known as the Trade Union Band, because it was sponsored by the Musicians’ Union. It practised on Sunday mornings in the Trades Union Club, just off the roundabout at the top of Marton Road. It was a side street, but I forget the name. You turn left at the top of Marton Road as though going to Redcar Trunk Road and then turn sharp left. The band was significant because it contained senior members of the union with young musicians, many of which were still at school. It became one of the first big bands in the country to receive what we called “sensible” fees because the national big bands had so many members that the fees were impossible. The senior members of the band were known as “stiffeners” because they led by example and helped to produce a better, co-ordinated sound. Derek wasn’t the first leader of the band, but he took over soon after I started handling music. He was a great teacher of young musicians, both within the band and privately.

I’m really sorry to hear of his demise. On a personal level, he was patient, quiet and a lovely performer as soloist and ensemble man. I know there will be many people saddened by his loss, because he played such a significant – if unsung – part in Teesside music circles.

We recorded the band many many times, sometimes without a fee simply to allow the band to hear the recordings and learn from their mistakes. In return for this we were allowed use some of the recordings. There were many repeat recordings of specific numbers simply to give the lads the chance to hear their improvements. It was Derek, with the support of the union secretary Kath (surname has disappeared from the brain for the moment), who cleared the system of payments and which I was able to report within a chaotic music seminar in London some time later. Steve Race was there and fell about laughing saying the local radio was always in trouble, but usually in the right. When he came up to West Auckland for a County Durham seminar I was able to tell him we HAD won, so he pointed out that we still couldn’t afford HIS band. All of this down to the effect of Derek Bridge and Kath. I wonder how many people know!!!

Jeremy McMurray said...

I was very sad to hear of Derek Bridge's untimely death. I had the privilege of working with Derek many times over the years both in education and as a fellow musician. He was a superb jazz clarinettist and saxophonist, arranger and educator who was always cheerful, encouraging and with a wonderful sense of humour. He was one of life's real gentleman who was held in high regard by both his fellow musicians and his past pupils, many of whom would keep in regular contact with him.
You couldn't wish to meet a nicer guy, God bless him.

Jeremy McMurray

Kevin O'Neill said...

I first met Derek a little over 30 years ago when I was asked by MU secretary Kathy Moore to play with the MU rehearsal big band because they needed a regular drummer. We immediately became good friends and in the ensuing years worked together many times. My wife also worked with him on keyboards in his own band and when Derek would dep at Marton Country Club. Each gig was an absolute joy because of Derek’s humour, good nature and great musicianship. Apart from the many bands Derek ran he was also a great teacher - his past students must number in the hundreds and he was respected by all of them. At one school they simply called him “The Legend”. I last saw Derek late last year in hospital and his main concern to me was his walkman and the music on it. Derek really was one of life’s gentlemen and will be missed by many. Now he is working in that great big band in the sky-I hope they make him bandleader!
Our thoughts are with our dear friend Wendy.
Kevin & Michele O’Neill

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