July
Sun 05: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 05: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Feat. guest Kevin Eland (trumpet).
Sun 05: Michael Woods @ Cycle Hub, Quayside, Ouseburn. 1:30-2:30pm & 3:15-4:00pm. Free. Acoustic blues guitar. An Ouseburn Festival event.
Sun 05: Lydia Rae Quintet @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00. Rae (vocals); Sam Lightwing (alto sax, tenor sax); Ben Lawrence (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Sun 05: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 05: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Table reservations (0191 261 8000). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 05: Storytellers Street Band @ Ouseburn Woodland, Ouseburn. 5:00-6:00pm. Free. An Ouseburn Festival event.
Sun 05: Gerry Richardson’s Big Idea @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 05: Jambone @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:15-9:45pm. Free but ticketed.
Mon 06: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 06: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Tue 07: Alan Law Trio @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:30pm. Free.
Tue 07: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Ben Lawrence (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Tue 07: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 08: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 08: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 08: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 08: Sax on the Tyne @ St George’s Church, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £8.00. Feat. Sax on the Tyne & St George’s Community Choir.
Wed 08: Abbie Finn Trio @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.
Thu 09: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 09: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 09: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Fri 10: Swing Manouche @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00.
Fri 10: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 10: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 10: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 10: Olly Styles & Jacob Egglestone @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 10: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 10: Archipelago @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 7:00pm . New album fundraiser gig.
Fri 10: King Bees @ Rebel Yell, Nelson St., Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. Chicago blues.
Sat 11: Spanish City Rollers @ Community Stage: Mouth of the Tyne Festival, Front Street, Tynemouth. 12 noon. Free.
Sat 11: Jazz Stage: Mouth of the Tyne Festival (o/s Tynemouth Priory), Tynemouth. Free. Vieux Carré Hot 4 (12 noon); Rendezvous Jazz (1:00pm); Castillo Nuevo Trio (2:00pm); Classic Swing (3:00pm); Abbie Finn Trio (4:00pm). Day 1/2.
Sat 11: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man + Adam Millington @ St John’s Chapel, Town Hall, Weardale DL13 1QF. 5:00pm (doors). £16.26., £10.84., £8.67., £5.42 (under 18).
Sat 11: Milne Glendinning Band @ Langley Tracks, Langley-on-Tyne. 5:30pm.
Sat 11: Society Quartet @ Hilton Garden Inn, Sunderland. 6:30pm.
Sat 11: Karberry Big Band @ Forest Hall Social Club. 7:00pm. £7.00.
Sat 11: Ray Quinn: The King of Swing @ The Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm.
3 comments :
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!!!
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
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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