Feast of gigs on Tyneside this autumn

Marcus Miller-Oct 20, Sage Gateshead

Russell Corbett writes- "The autumn season of gigs on Tyneside is busier than ever as touring bands call in at several venues, regional bands gig across the region and promoters juggle an all-too-crowded calendar.

Pianist Mark Pringle’s Moveable Feast Trio can be heard at the Jazz Café (Sep 11). Two days later, at the Bridge Hotel, French quartet OZMA improvise to a screening of Buster Keaton’s Three Ages. Elliot Galvin visits the Literary and Philosophical Society (Sep 18) and on the same evening, a matter of two hundred metres along the road at the Jazz Café, vocalist Alice Grace is sure to attract a big crowd. Three venues within spitting distance of one another all chasing the jazz pound.

The phenomenally successful Strictly Smokin’ Big Band invariably pack-out Newcastle’s soul-jazz bar Hoochie Coochie. A Sunday afternoon date (Sep 20) with Anthony Strong a special guest for the occasion guarantees a full house. On the evening, at the Globe public house owned by Newcastle Jazz Co-op, drummer Mark Robertson’s first novel – Off Key – forms the centerpiece of proceedings with music and readings.

Jazz North East’s improv strand resumes with an appearance by Japan’s Yoko Miura in a duo setting with percussionist Charlie Collins (Wed 23). This will be pianist Miura’s first UK gig outside London. Tyneside’s Zoë Gilby forms the other half of a double bill at the Lit & Phil as she performs her voice and electronics set. Soweto Kinch makes a return to Hoochie Coochie (Fri 25) and on the same evening at the Jazz Café Soundbone (Graeme Stephen, guitar, Chris Grieve, trombone, David Carnegie, drums), will deconstruct tunes by Led Zeppelin! Those planning to hear Graeme Stephen could be torn, as across town a legendary name calls in at the Irish Centre; Reindhardt the name, Lulo Reindhardt. 

There is no let-up in October. Saxophonist Toby Delius is at the Bridge Hotel (Oct 4) and Evan Christopher returns to Sage Gateshead (Oct 6) with special guest Don Vappie. Tusk Festival operates left field. This year’s event (Oct 9-11) will relocate to Sage Gateshead’s satellite venue Gateshead Old Town Hall. Top of the bill, for the jazz fan, will be a once-in-lifetime opportunity to hear the Magic Science Quartet featuring Marshall Allen and a revitalised Henry Grimes. Nicolas Meier appears at Sage Gateshead (16) and on the same evening the all-American Kora Band will be in the upstairs room at the Jazz Café. A ‘big name’ is booked into Hall One, Sage Gateshead (Oct 20). One-time Miles Davis bassist Marcus Miller will attempt to sell-out all 1700 seats. Vasilis Xenopoulos (tenor) makes a welcome return to play a few gigs with his friend, pianist Paul Edis. Their Tyneside gig at the Black Bull, Blaydon (Oct 25), will be in the company of bassist Andy Champion and Russ Morgan (drums). At the end of October (30) the Buck Clayton Legacy Band makes a return to Sage Gateshead and will lead a workshop the following day (Oct 31).                          
 
A selective list of gigs inevitably omits many others. The above – covering the Newcastle and Gateshead areas only – is no exception. To highlight other gigs throughout north east would require a piece two or three times the length of this summary!"

Gig dates and venues

Sep 11 Mark Pringle’s Moveable Feast Trio Jazz Café Newcastle NE1 5DW

Sep 13 OZMA meets Buster Bridge Hotel Newcastle NE1 1RQ

Sep 18 Elliot Galvin Trio Lit & Phil Newcastle. NE1 1SE

Sep 18 Alice Grace Quintet Jazz Café Newcastle NE1 5DW

Sep 20 Strictly Smokin’ Big Band with Anthony Strong Hoochie Coochie NE1 8SF

Sep 20 Blue Jazz Off Key The Globe Newcastle NE4 7AD

Sep 20 Bradley Johnston Quartet Black Bull Blaydon NE21 4JJ

Sep 23 Yoko Miura & Charlie Collins + Zoë Gilby Lit & Phil Newcastle NE1 1SE

Sep 25 Soweto Kinch Hoochie Coochie Newcastle NE1 8SF

Sep 25 Soundbone Jazz Café Newcastle NE1 5DW

Sep 27 Lulo Reinhardt Tyneside Irish Centre Newcastle NE1 4SG

Sep 29 Jeff Herr Corporation Jazz Café Newcastle NE1 5DW

Oct 04 Toby DeliusTrio Bridge Hotel Newcastle NE1 1RQ

Oct 06 Evan Christopher’s Django a la Creole Sage Gateshead NE4 2JR

Oct 09-11 Tusk Festival ft Magic Science Quartet Gateshead Old Town Hall NE4 1HE 

Oct 11 Glasshoppers + Triptych Bridge Hotel Newcastle NE1 1RQ

Oct 16 Nicolas Meier Sage Gateshead NE4 2JR

Oct 16 Kora Band Jazz Café Newcastle NE1 5DW

Oct 20 Marcus Miller Sage Gateshead NE4 2JR

Oct 25 Vasilis Xenopoulos with Paul Edis Trio Black Bull Blaydon NE21 4JJ

Oct 26 Julian Argüelles Tetra Sage Gateshead NE4 2JR

Oct 27 Let Spin Jazz Café Newcastle NE1 5DW 

Oct 30 Buck Clayton Legacy Band Sage Gateshead NE4 2JR