Russell Corbett's North East jazz roundup for November

 The Cookers Nov 12

 Coco Rouzier Nov 4 

The North East’s major event in November is Mike Durham’s Classic Jazz Party. Formerly the Whitley Bay Jazz Festival, the Village Hotel located conveniently just off the A19, hosts three days of non-stop ‘classic era’ jazz concerts featuring an array of top drawer exponents of the music. Several of the musicians will arrive at Newcastle International Airport from across Europe, USA and as far afield as Australia. Musicians and many of the festival goers will book into the Village Hotel for the duration (Nov 4-6) making the event an extended social occasion. Jean François Bonnel (France), brilliant percussionist Josh Duffee (USA), violin virtuoso Emma Fisk (County Durham!) and Jim Fryer (USA) are just some of the many participants at this year’s gathering.

Elsewhere in the region regular gigs and touring artists offer numerous opportunities for the jazz fan to get out and about – here’s a selection. Nov 12 (a Monday) sees the return of the Cookers. One of only four British dates, Sage Gateshead is the place to be to hear one of the great line-ups in jazz; David Weiss, Eddie Henderson, trumpets, Billy Harper, Craig Handy, reeds, and the rhythm section, Danny Grissett, piano, Cecil McBee, double bass and Billy Hart, drums. Don’t miss this one!

American vocalist Coco Rouzier makes a welcome return to Newcastle’s Jazz Café (Nov 4) following her scintillating performance at this year’s late night jam session during the Gateshead International Jazz Festival. The expressive singer (think Sarah Vaughan) will be working in the company of the Peter Gilligan Trio. On the same date down the road in Saltburn at the Community Hall Tyneside’s Zoë Gilby is sure to attract a full house. The Lindsay Hannon Plus (fronted by Northumberland-based vocalist Hannon) returns to the Traveller’s Rest, Darlington on Nov 18. On the same night there is much to choose from: the Tyne Valley Big Band performs in concert at King Edward VI School, Morpeth, Jazz Invaders (a blast from the past!) reform to play a gig a Jazz Co-op gig at the Globe, along the road at the Jazz Café there is Olivia Moore’s Unfurl (a quintet on this occasion), and Hoochie Coochie favourite Ray Harris is in town. Josh Kemp plays the Globe on Nov 26.

Two much hyped acts – The Bad Plus (Nov 8) and Robert Glasper (Nov 17) – rock up at Sage Gateshead, and across the month Jazz North East presents a variety of saxophonists including: Hans Peter Hiby (Nov 6) at the Bridge Hotel, American Greg Abate with Paul Edis, Ken Marley and Russ Morgan (Nov 11) at the Jazz Café and New York-based Josh Sinton Trio (Nov 13) at the Bridge Hotel. A fourth reedsman, Tommaso Starace, plays at the Jazz Café on Nov 29. Abate and Edis play Durham’s Gala Theatre (1:00pm) Nov 11.

Durham’s Empty Shop continues to attract capacity audiences. In the shadow of Durham Cathedral and surrounded by Durham University’s many colleges, the 35c Framwellgate Bridge venue is frequented by students and a few older hands. Tyneside-based Francesco Falcioni brings in his quartet on Nov 3 prior to the pianist’s relocation to London, and an altogether different quartet – Robocobra – from Belfast return on Nov 9. Drummer Abbie  Finn fronts a Leeds College of Music trio at Darlington’s Quakerhouse pub on Nov 13.

Finally, King’s Hall, Newcastle University has reopened after a year-long refit. Fischer, Edwards and Sanders play freely at 1:10pm on Nov 10 and in marked contrast, Hot Club Du Nord, led by Emma Fisk, entertains on Nov 24, again starting at ten minutes past