Bebop Spoken There

Emma Rawicz: "In a couple of years I've gone from being a normal university student to suddenly being on international stages." DownBeat January 2026.

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

18219 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 73 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 24), 73

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Fri 30: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 30: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 30: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 30: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 30: Pete Roth Trio @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). Feat. Bill Bruford.
Fri 30: Jive Aces @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm.
Fri 30: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Northern Edge Coffee, Silver St., Berwick. 7:00pm.
Fri 30: Dan Coulthurst Quintet @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £10.00 + £1.00. bf (www.wegottickets.com). Coulthurst (trumpet); Joel Stedman (bass clarinet, flute); Nico Widdowson (piano); Fergus Quill (double bass); Theo Goss (drums).

Sat 31: Darling Dollies @ St George’s Church, Jesmond, Newcastle. 3:00pm. £10.00. Vocal trio.
Sat 31: Brass Fiesta @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 10:30pm. Free.

FEBRUARY 2026

Sun 01: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 01: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Quintet + guest Bill Watson (trumpet, flugelhorn).
Sun 01: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: Annie & the Caldwells @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £25.00. adv. Gospel/soul.
Sun 01: Jive Aces @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm.
Sun 01: Olly Styles Experience + Jenny Baker @ the Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 02: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 02: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

Tue 03: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 03: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 04: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 04: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 04: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 05: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject:Times of the Day & Trios.
Thu 05: Jeremy McMurray’s Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Special guest Emma Wilson.
Thu 05: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

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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