Russell Corbett's North East round up for October

Tim Garland October 21 @Sage

Russell Corbett's North East round up

Autumn in the north east…not quite the romance of Autumn in New York or Autumn in Paris, nevertheless, there is much to hear right across the region, with much of it coming from distant jazz lands: America, Australia, France, Greece, Hungary, and way up north, in Amble. There are gigs in a prohibition-era speakeasy, the Quakerhouse, White House, church halls and village halls, big halls, a town hall, a Hoochie Coochie joint, an empty shop, a theatre, and, maybe something from Vermont.

October is going to be a busy time of it. America sends us singer Stacey Kent (Gala Theatre, Oct 4) and NYC improviser Ellery Eskelin (Jazz Co-op @ The Globe, Oct 14) – musically poles apart, alike in abundant talent. Eskelin’s short tour has been arranged by Kim Macari’s Oprheus Project matching him with Matt Bourne and Chris Sharkey. It will be interesting to see how it works out. A Monday night gig at the Cluny (Oct 3) suggests the promoter has confidence in a large crowd turning out to hear some jazz. As it is NYC favourites the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble it could well be a full house.

The Old Glory Jazz Band comes from the Deep South (south of the Tees Delta). They’ve got themselves a Friday night gig (Oct 7) at Saltburn Community Hall and up the road in Darlington, the Basin Street Brawlers (Oct 15 lunchtime) can be counted on to kick up a storm at the local New Orleans Jazz Club. They’re British, despite the name! A decidedly home grown talent is pianist James Harrison. The Teessider will be working with altoist Ray Dales at the Quakerhouse, Darlington (Oct 9) in a Darlington Jazz Club engagement.

Three Hot Club outfits vie for your jazz Euro dollar during October. Tcha Limberger – a man with a genuine Manouche lineage – returns to Sage Gateshead (Oct 2) with his seven piece Budapest Gypsy Orchestra. Daniel John Martin teams up once again with a County Durham lad immersed in all things swing, Mick Shoulder’s Swing Manouche (bandleader Shoulder and Giles Strong, guitars, Paul Susans, double bass), to play three dates. On Oct 4 knock at the door at Arch 3, Brandling Street, Gateshead and, if you’re wearing a beret, you’ll gain admittance to Prohibition Bar to hear the amazing Daniel John Martin (violin) and again the following evening at Bishop Auckland Town Hall. Fans in Hexham will be queuing round the block to hear Martin at Core Music on Thursday 6. The Lit & Phil, in Newcastle, welcomes Trio Gitan’s ‘Stephane Grappelli Story’ (Oct 8). Five opportunities in eight days to hear some of the best exponents of Hot Club-style jazz. Go hear them!

Australian pianist Sean Foran embarks upon a British tour calling in at the Bridge Hotel, Newcastle (Oct 9) to play a duo set with Stuart McCallum. Pianist Alan Law will play a support set with his new trio. Greek-born, London-resident Vasilis Xenopoulos makes his annual visit to play a couple of gigs with friend Paul Edis. Last year’s gigs attracted full houses, this year’s dates at the Traveller’s Rest, Darlington (Oct 21) and the Black Bull, Blaydon (Oct 23) will do likewise. If you want to be sure of a seat at either venue, arrive early! Hugely recommended.

Jazz North East’s ‘Women Make Music’ series welcomes Sarah Gail Brand to the Black Swan, Newcastle (Oct 11). Brand will be working with regular improv collaborators John Edwards and Steve Beresford. Juliet Kelly continues her tour of rural venues with gigs in Amble Parish Hall, Northumberland (Oct 15) and Cotherstone Village Hall, Co. Durham (Oct 16) in the company of Dr Paul Edis (piano). Kelly will once again be exploring her Bond to Bowie repertoire. Ruth Lambert will be singing in the Vermont Hotel with Stu Collingwood, piano, accompanying on Oct 15, and, on Thursday 27, Hammond virtuoso Gerry Richardson will also be singing one or two numbers with his quartet at Hoochie Coochie on Pilgrim Street, Newcastle.  

Finally, playing the last date of his 50th birthday tour at Sage Gateshead, one-time north east resident Tim Garland will be in the company of pianist Jason Rebello, guitarist Ant Law and percussionist Asaf Sirkis. Sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to Tim on Friday 21st.