Bebop Spoken There

Christian McBride: ''I believe we are living in a historically embarrassing moment in American history.'' - Downbeat December 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

18035 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 999 of them this year alone and, so far, 13 this month (Dec. 7).

From This Moment On ...

DECEMBER 2025

Sun 14: Musicians Unlimited + Darlington Big Band @ West Hartlepool RFC. 12 noon-6:00pm. £9.00. Musicians Unlimited’s Xmas Party. SOLD OUT!
Sun 14: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 14: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 14: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 14: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The White Room, Stanley. 6:30pm. £15.18 (inc. bf).
Sun 14: Paul Skerritt @ The Black Candle, South Shields. 6:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 14: Sean Noonan Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. JNE.

Mon 15: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 16: Paul Skerritt @ Chakh Dhoom, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Indian restaurant. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Tue 16: A Jazzy Xmas @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm. Paul Edis (MD, piano); Jo Harrop (vocals); Kyran Matthews (tenor sax, soprano sax); Faye Thompson (alto sax, clarinet); Sue Ferris (flute, piccolo); Graham Hardy (trumpet, flugelhorn); Jason Holcomb (trombone);Emma Fisk (violin); Andy Champion (double bass); Matt MacKellar (drums).
Tue 16: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Stu Collingwood, Paul Grainger, Tim Johnston.

Wed 17: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Spanish City, Whitley Bay. 12 noon. £29.00 (inc. bf). ‘Festive Lunch’. VCJ on stage 12 noon (three sets 'til 4:00pm).
Wed 17: Lazy River Band @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. Veronica Perrin, Chris Perrin, John Farragher, Phil Rutherford
Wed 17: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 17: Paul Skerritt @ Middlesbrough Town Hall. 7:00pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Wed 17: A Jazzy Xmas @ Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm. Paul Edis (MD, piano); Jo Harrop (vocals); Kyran Matthews (tenor sax, soprano sax); Faye Thompson (alto sax, clarinet); Sue Ferris (flute, piccolo); Graham Hardy (trumpet, flugelhorn); Jason Holcomb (trombone);Emma Fisk (violin); Andy Champion (double bass); Matt MacKellar (drums).
Wed 17: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 18: Paul Skerritt @ YOLO, Ponteland. 7:00pm. ‘Swing & Jazz Night’. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Thu 18: Joe Steels & Friends @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:30pm. Free (donations).

Fri 19: Fraser Urquhart @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT! .
Fri 19: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free..
Fri 19: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free..
Fri 19: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00..
Fri 19: Castillo Nuevo @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:00pm. Free. .
Fri 19: Alexia Gardner @ FIKA Art Gallery, Morpeth. 6:30pm. Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy..
Fri 19: Paul Skerritt @ Middlesbrough Town Hall. 7:00pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes. .
Fri 19: Giles Strong Quartet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club..
Fri 19: Creakin’ Bones & the Xmas Dinners @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £13.01 (inc. bf)..
Fri 19: Mark Toomey Quintet @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.

Sat 20: Jazz Attack @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 11:00am. Free.
Sat 20: Alexia Gardner @ FIKA Art Gallery, Morpeth. 6:30pm. Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy. SOLD OUT!
Sat 20: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Sat 20: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 20: Hoodoo Blues @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:15pm (doors). £14.25, £11.55. Dance class, social dancing, live music & Xmas Party. Live music from 9:00pm - Ruth Lambert, Giles Strong, Ian Paterson & John Bradford (jazz and blues).
Sat 20: John Pope Quintet @ Blank Studios, Newcastle. 7:30-8:30pm. £7.70 (inc. bf). Album recording session.

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

Saturday, March 31, 2018

RIP Derek Fleck


Just received the sad news that sax/clarinet/banjo man Derek Fleck died on Wednesday, March 28. Former meteorologist, Derek was a relatively late arrival on the northeast jazz scene but soon made his presence felt with all the local trad bands but, perhaps, most of all with the West Jesmond Rhythm Kings.

When the WJRK folded after the death of Mike Durham, Derek became part of the Jazz in the Afternoon band at the Crescent Club in Cullercoats. 
He was a good robust player who often claimed that he was really a modernist at heart although in the lineups he invariably played in there was no such indication.
Now we'll never know. The important thing is that he did what he did and did it well.
Condolences to Alice and family.
Sadly missed.
Lance  
(Photo courtesy of Brian Bennett).
See comment by John Taylor.
See comment/link by Ian.

6 comments :

Brian (Vieux Carré Jazzmen) said...

Over the years I've seen Derek perform alongside and duet with many of the jazz world's 'A list' reed players, mainly when he was with Mike Durham's West Jesmond Rhythm Kings. John Barnes, George Huxley, Matthias Seuffert, Monty Sunshine, Frank Brooker and so many others - all 'world class'. In my opinion Derek was up there with the best of them.
In his 'day job' he was a meteorologist at the Newcastle Weather Centre and regularly broadcast on Radio Newcastle. I remember travelling with the WJRK's to the Isle of Bute jazz festival. En route, Derek stood at the front of the coach with his weather charts and gave a formal, detailed weather forecast for the weekend ahead - hilarious! Happy memories, Derek! R.I.P.

John Taylor said...

Can't think that its 4 years since we went to the final WJRK concert at the Isle of Bute Jazz Festival which I attended
I've posted the last recording I did of Derek (in the grand parade on the final day).

Mike Green said...

Sorry to hear about Dereks sad passing, I played drums with him in the vieux carre band
on numerous occasions, and also with the maine street jazzband.he was a superb musician, and a thoroughly nice guy, I don't know whether he drove or not, but I gave him a lift home as well from time to time!
Sadly missed.yet another of us playing in the big band up there!
Condolences from Mike Green.

CCJAZZMEN said...

Such sad news about Derek. I remember going to the Wheatsheaf in New York
to see him blow with all the guys at a jam session there in the 1980's when his
nickname was the weatherman. Derek always had a very good knowledge of jazz
and was also a very fine musician.

All of us here in Hong Kong , musicians and listener's send our very heartfelt condolences to Alice and the family. R.I.P.

Colin Aitchison
China Coast Jazzmen
Ned Kelly's Last Stand Hong Kong.

Ian said...

Derek Fleck was my father-in-law. On behalf of the family, I would like to say thank you for all the kind words about Derek.

I attach a link to a recording of Derek in the car park at the Whitley Bay Jazz Festival in 2010 when an evacuation due to a false fire alarm prompted a performance in the car park of 'I don't want to set the world on fire'

https://youtu.be/ZbmkG3FeXWc?t=2m29s

Unknown said...

Derek was my first Cousin.We lost contact years ago .So sad to hear he died .What a talent he had.I am trying to locate my family.It would be lovely to hear from you.We live in France .My mother Esme Turnor was his Aunt.Eileen Fleck and Leslie Fleck his parents and Brenda his first wife.Sending Best Wishes Jean Barnett

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