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

18083 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 1047 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Dec. 14), 61.

From This Moment On ...

DECEMBER 2025

Sun 21: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. ‘Xmas Swingalong’. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 21: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00-5:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ o2 City Hall, Newcastle. 6:00pm. £35.80., £33.25., £31.00.
Sun 21: The Globe Xmas Party @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Live music.
Sun 21: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:30pm. Free.

Mon 22: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 23: Paul Skerritt @ Chakh Dhoom, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Indian restaurant. Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Wed 24: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 24: Alexia Gardner @ The Townhouse, Bridge St., Morpeth. 1:30-4:30pm. ‘The A Capella Sessions’. Gardner, Paula Gardner, Alexia Hope Gardner Diamany.
Wed 24: Paul Skerritt @ Mambo Wine & Dine, South Shields. 1:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Thu 25: Alexia Gardner @ The Townhouse, Bridge St., Morpeth. 1:30-4:00pm. ‘All About the Bass Sessions’. Alexia Gardner, Paula Gardner, Jude Murphy.

Fri 26: ???

Sat 27: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Sat 27: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.

Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ 3 Stories, High St. West, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: The Society Quartet @ Hilton Garden Inn, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Jason Holcomb & co.

Mon 29: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 30: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £8.00., £7.00. adv.

Wed 31: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 31: Lil Miss Mary & the Mr Rights Trio @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. ‘Early NYE Bash’. Rockabilly, rhythm & blues.
Wed 31: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. ‘Midnight in Manhattan’ NYE party. £49.46 (inc. bf) & £29.38 (inc. bf).

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, April 24, 2021

Derek Nash's Sax Appeal livestreaming from the 606 - April 24

(Screenshot by Lance)

Derek Nash (soprano/alto/tenor/baritone saxes); Neil Angilley (piano); Phil Scragg (bass guitar); Mike Bradley (drums).

Another super Saturday at the 606 with some stompingly good jazz. I may not have been dancing physically but, deep down inside I was! Nash blew up a storm on baritone, tenor, alto and a curved, 1920's Buescher True Tone soprano that he got from Tim Garland. What a pedigree that instrument must have!

(Screenshot by Lance)
Baritone for starters and a nice, rollicking, New York Walk. The spirit of Gerry Mulligan was in the air and maybe John Coltrane too - if Trane had ever gotten around to blowing bari.

The Buescher True Tone belied its venerable years on Blue House Samba with Nash making the transition from the mighty bari to the tiny sop with ease. Is it me or do curved sopranos always sound that little bit more melodic than the straight horn?

Next up saw him on tenor but, I didn't catch the name of the tune so I'll just call it Merely Terrific!

Spark was an appropriate name for a piece dedicated to the original Watermill Jazz Club in Dorking which burnt down some years ago. Spark is part of The Phoenix Suite which Nash composed in the aftermath of the fire. He played alto on this one displaying a Bird-like fluency.

Back to baritone and Blue for You. As well as the leader's emotive playing, pianist Angilley, as he'd been doing all night, was hot on piano with Scragg superb on bass and Bradley cool and sympathetic.

The drummer was still sympathetic although far from cool on The Chant which also featured Angilley on piano and Nash on alto.
(Screenshot by Lance)

Needless to say, they didn't go out with a whimper! Sticky Finger Boogie - I'll leave the title up to interpretation - was a blast. They all went for it. Nash and Angilley putting the boot in before belting out some exciting tenor and piano exchanges to set up Bradley for his solo of the night. It was frantic with all hands to the pump - and you can catch up again on Tuesday's livestream. Lance

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