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Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 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

17655 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 929 of them this year alone and, so far, 74 this month (Dec. 31).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Sun 05: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 05: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 05: Salty Dog @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Americana, jazz & blues.
Sun 05: Papa G’s Troves @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free (donations).

Mon 06: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 07: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:00pm. Free.

Wed 08: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 08: The Tannery Jam Session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 08: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 08: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Thu 09: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: John H Hammond.
Thu 09: FILM: Soundtrack to a Coup D’Etat @ Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle. 2:35pm. Documentary (dir. Johan Grimonprez) ‘about jazz, (de)colonial history and activism featuring Louis Armstrong, Nina Simone and Dizzy Gillespie’.
Thu 09: Happy Tuesdays @ Ye Olde Cross, Ryton. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 09: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. Ragtime piano. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 09: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. A Tees Hot Club promotion. The session now monthly, next one Thursday 2nd Feb, then first Thursday in the month thereafter.

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: Joe Steels Trio @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. Free.

Sat 11: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 11: Under the Wellie @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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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