Gateshead Jazz Festival headliners

 Judi Jackson

Sage Gateshead has announced the artists for Gateshead Jazz Festival 22- 24 March

Jamie Cullum will open the festival on the Friday night in the main concert hall, Sage One, on the back of his recently released ‘Taller’ album, while Mercury Award 2019 nominees SEED Ensemble will perform a club show in the beautifully designed 10-sided hall, Sage Two. Following thus will be a late-night club show for Manchester’s ground-breaking electronic trio GoGo Penguin who draw on rock, jazz, minimalism and glitchy-electronica to create their unique music. Also on Friday, Sage Gateshead Artist in Residence Paul Edis’ Triptych trio will collaborate live with visual artist Lisa Delarny. There will be free performances by all-female ensemble Break Out Brass performing disco hits in their unique New Orleans style, plus late night jams and party DJ sets on the concourse overlooking the river as audiences gather for the rest of the weekend.

Headlining the Saturday night are Ibibio Sound Machine plus House Gospel Choir in Sage One. Ibibio Sound Machine is a clash of African and electronic elements inspired by West-African funk and disco, modern post-punk and electro. House Gospel Choir (the smash hit of Sage Gateshead’s NYE party 2018) is an electrifying House meets Gospel experience that brings together a group of outstanding singers, a full house band and DJ, creating an effortless live fusion of the biggest house and gospel tunes. Meanwhile, Sage Two will see performances from New York trumpeter Theo Croker (nominated for his most recent Grammy last week), Norwegian pianist and composer Bugge Wesseltoft collaborating with UK bassist Shri and rising star vocalist, and Snarky Puppy collaborator Judi Jackson who recently starred in Ronnie Scott’s 60th Anniversary Gala at the Royal Albert Hall. Over Foundation Hall, there are a trio of performances responding to climate change: Dutch live jazz, electronic and digital innovators Tin Men and the Telephone, musician and activist Sarah Nicolls with her ‘Inside Out’ piano performing ‘12 years’ (a powerful response to the IPCC 2018 report on climate change), and Danish bassist, climate activist and founder member of Phronesis, Jasper Hoiby, presenting his new trio Planet B.

Sunday kicks off with Nikki Iles Big Band Brunch. The award-winning pianist and composer, Nikki Iles, will perform with her 20-piece jazz orchestra whilst brunch will be served in Sage Two. Later, ground-breaking contemporary jazz pianists Nikki Yeoh and Zoe Rahman join forces on two grand pianos before British-Bahraini trumpeter and band leader Yazz Ahmed presents ‘Polyhymnia’; a 14-piece project, playing cinematic, psychedelic Arabic Jazz. Womad stars Vula Viel will thrill with their exciting heavy jazz/electronic fusion based around the wooden Gyil xylophone. Closing the festival after another full day of free and ticketed performances will be Binker Golding, a critically acclaimed tenor sax player at the forefront of the UK jazz explosion performing with his quartet on the back of his new record.

Tamsin Austin, Director of Performance Programme at Sage Gateshead, says

“It is a perfect moment to discover jazz – the current sound is an exciting melting pot, drawing on multi-cultural roots, dance music, Afro-beat, R&B, neo-soul and electronic music. Radio play on 6 Music is helping re-define the genre and for the first time the festival brings a special £5 offer for all concerts for anyone aged 16 to 25.”

The festival goes on general sale on Wednesday 27th November www.sagegateshead.com telephone 0191 443 4661.

Jazz North northern line gigs coming up soon

Emma Johnson

 From Suzanne at Jazz North - three Northern Line bands playing soon!

Emma Johnson's Gravy Boat Saturday 16 November Jazz North East at The Globe
Newcastle
Emma Johnson’s Gravy Boat is a project led by Leeds based saxophonist and composer Emma Johnson. Emma's writing displays a contemporary sound rooted by infectious melodies and the group have been described as demonstrating a “strong and joyful bond, immediately apparent in their sound”. Emma Johnson, tenor saxophone Calvin Travers, guitar Sam Quintana, bass guitar Alasdair Wells, drums   https://theglobenewcastle.bar/whats-on/#/whatson

Treppenwitz Saturday 16 November Zeffirellis, Ambleside
Treppenwitz is pianist Matthew Aplin, bassist Tom Riviere and drummer Steve Hanley. The band's music highlights explorative passages of beauty and space alongside explosive interludes, held together by the connective tissue of improvisation. https://www.zeffirellis.com/live-music/treppenwitz

Mark Williams Trio Friday 6 December Jazz at The Priestley Bradford
Influences from rock, metal and fusion, with added electronic effects, give this guitar trio from Newcastle an edgier and more modern sound, yet with melody and improvisation still at its core.
Mark Williams, guitar Paul Susans, bass Russ Morgan, drums  http://jatpjazz.blogspot.com/p/gigs-to-come.html

Wakefield Jazz in November

15th Nov - Calum Gourlay Quartet  

After a storming October, we move into a five-gig jazz extravaganza for Wakefield Jazz on Fridays in November, starting Friday (1st) with Alan Barnes’ latest project Requiem, with his all-star Octet (Gilad Atzmon, Mark Nightingale, Dave Green Sebastiaan de Krom etc) and words from poet Josie Moon - peace and remembrance.

Onwards and upwards:

8th Nov - Alison Rayner Quintet - bass-led group, with Deirdre Cartwright on guitar - life-affirming groove-infused jazz

15th Nov - Calum Gourlay Quartet - sax/trombone/bass/drums - young musicians at the forefront of contemporary music making - plus Wakefield Youth Jazz Orchestra at 7.30pm

22nd Nov - Greg Abate - New York alto sax bebop maestro with local trio to Pete Rosser, Adrian Knowles and John Settle.

29th Nov - Dale Storr - a history of solo New Orleans-style piano (with stories and songs), from Meade Lux Lewis to Professor Longhair and Dr John - the very roots of jazz. 

All gigs at 8.30pm (with support on 15th Nov), food at 7.15pm - book through www.wakefieldjazz.org 

And then the famous Wakefield Jazz Xmas Party gig on Friday 5th Dec, this year with Stevie Williams and the Most Wanted Blues Band.

Sheffield Jazz autumn season highlights

Ingrid & Christine Jensen 22 November

On Friday 8 November, O’Higgins and Luft play Monk and Trane.Both Monk and Trane were “modernists”, but also steeped in swing and the rich tradition of the beboppers. Sheffield Jazz favourites Dave O’Higgins and Rob Luft intend to respect this lineage whilst putting their own mark on it. This gig will be part of a 40-plus tour promoting their new CD.

On Friday 15 November we welcome the Alex Hitchcock Quartet.  Described by Jazzwise as part of ‘the shape of jazz to come’, saxophonist Alex Hitchcock made a big impression in Sheffield with his quintet in Spring 2018 and is now joined by three acclaimed improvising musicians, including pianist Will Barry who has particularly impressed on previous visits to Sheffield. Expect driving swing as well as propulsive grooves and virtuosic soloing.
 
On Friday 22 November a very special treat! Ingrid & Christine Jensen with the Whirlwind Jazz Orchestra.Over the past twenty years or so, as trumpeter and saxophonist respectively, the Canadian Jensen sisters have each shaped prolific careers in contemporary jazz. Tonight’s programme features original and arranged compositions performed by an 16-piece big band which includes a galaxy of leading American and European musicians associated with the Whirlwind label.

Daniel Erdmann’s Velvet Revolutionwill be with us on Friday 29 November. A true European jazz super-group which has been receiving increasingly enthusiastic reviews on its visits to the UK. Expect sublime, lyrical and melodic improvised music. Leading German tenor saxophonist Daniel Erdmann, a self-confessed lover of melody, had been looking for the right musicians to join him and in Theo Ceccaldi and Jim Hart he found the perfect team for the project.

Our season ends on Friday 6 December with Fabled.Saxophonist/clarinettist Sam Rapley has assembled a group of the most exciting young musicians on the UK music scene. In October 2018 they played a highly successful gig at The Lescar. Richly atmospheric and expressive, Sam's music draws inspiration from Debussy, Jobim and Sarah Vaughan and is heavily influenced by film music: shimmering, impressionistic and multi-textured.

All Sheffield Jazz gigs will be at Crookes Social Club, Mulehouse Road, Sheffield S10 1TD,

Further details of the complete Sheffield Jazz programme can be found at
www,sheffieldjazz.org.uk 

Tom Langham’s Hot Fingers at Dove jazz

Saturday the 23rd November Tom Langham’s Hot Fingers plus Emily Campbell

From Roger Marshall

Adrian Cox’s Profoundly Blue pulsating production showcasing the music of Edmond Hall last month would appear to have hit all of the right buttons with the Club’s appreciative audience on the night. These high calibre London based musicians certainly lived up to their reputations and gave of their all to ensure that no one left the venue deprived of Jazz ‘Satisfaction’ in the words of the Stones.

This show is coming to an end after two years of being on the road and Dove Jazz Club was honoured to have one of the show’s last performances staged on its well-trodden boards. A quote from a recent review by Sue Carrette of a performance on the 28th September in London’s Loughton Methodist Church, to raise funds for the National Jazz Archive, stated that ‘given Cox’s talent, experience and sheer passion for his music we can be sure that the best is yet to come.’ We trust that our Club shares in the predicted bright future for this most charismatic of musicians!

Whilst it will be difficult to top Adrian’s high octane performance we have the ideal people lined up for this task. I refer of course to November’s show stopping band Tom Langham’s Hot Fingers with their superb vocalist Emily Campbell who is both a delight to the eye and the ear as well as being one L of a vocalist. This ebullient group of popular musicians who all now reside close to Condicot in the Cotswolds are probably the most frequent musical visitors to our Club these days. Their ginormous combination of musical instruments covers a vast array of tones and styles. Mr Langham demonstrates his able mastery of the guitar, banjo and ukulele; the suave and handsome Danny brings us the guitar, mandolin, clarinet, bass clarinet and harmonica whilst the intelligent looking one, Malcolm gives of his all on the string bass, tuba and sousaphone. The saving grace of this combination is that the vocal renditions are in the more than competent hands of Tom and Emily.

Dove Jazz, Dove Holes Village, nr Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 8BG

Graeme Wilson in Davenham

Jazz@Davenham welcomes the GRAEME WILSON QUARTET - coming from Edinburgh and The North East the band has Graeme on Sax, the fantastic Paul Edis on Piano and keyboards, Andy Champion on Bass and Adam Sinclair on drums.

The quartet will feature Graeme's latest album, "Abscondit", which is the bands 2nd album since the successful 2016 offering "Sure Will Hold a Boat" and the great EP "Pleasureland"

We welcome the band back to jazz@davenham since their last great concert here 2/3 years ago.

This will be followed on Thursday 12th December by the John Ellis Quintet

You can book by e mail to jazz@davenham.co(no uk or com) or you can call 01606 74502 or 44253.
If you book by e mail, we should always send you a reply! If you don't get one, please call us or text Dave on 07919 621289.

From JAZZ@DAVENHAM TEAM
Doors and Bar open 7.30pm - Concert starts at 8.00pm

Gig venue - Davenham Theatre: 59 Church Street, Davenham, Cheshire CW9 8NF

Sponsors - Tatton Brewery
www.tattonbrewery.co.uk

November Jazz at the Cask Scarborough

Gordon Vernick

From Mike Gordon, Scarborough Jazz 

Nov 6    AC3
Back in action after a break (Tom’s arm), AC3 translate their shared love of jazz, funk, gospel and world music into irresistible foot-tapping rhythms and engaging melodies. Adam Carpenter (keyboards), Tom Townsend (drums) and Rowan Oliver (bass) play Adam’s original material.  £5

Nov 13    Stony Jazz
Five of the best known musicians on the Scarborough scene come together to create an infectious good time blend of  swing, jazz and Latin. Great vocals from Rich Adams front a line-up of Dave Kemp (sax), Mark Gordon (keyboards), Bob Walker (bass) and Tom Townsend (drums).  £5

Nov 20    Gordon Vernick
Respected the world over as a high calibre trumpet player, music educator and radio broadcaster this is Gordon’s second UK tour at the invite of Wigan Jazz Club and Youth Jazz Orchestra. He will be working with big bands, trios and duos as well as giving masterclasses and presentations. Gordon has performed with such jazz stars as Kenny Werner, Marc Copland, Clare Fischer and Randy Brecker. Gordon’s style is very much in the be-bop tradition, accompanied on this tour by three of our own top musicians, Martín Longhawn (piano), John Marley (bass) and Tim Carter (drums).  £8

Nov 27    Ian Chalk + MG3
Often in a supporting role, tonight it’s a chance for one of our region’s leading musicians to take the solo spot and treat us to his mellow trumpet tone and sensitive improvisations. With MG3. £5

Doors open at 8.00 pm and music begins at 8.45.For more details, go to our website: www.scarboroughjazz.co.uk. Doors at The Cask open 8.00pm.

Scarborough Jazz @ The Cask Inn  Cambridge Terrace, Scarborough, North Yorkshire YO11 2LQ tel 01723 500570

Russell Corbett's North East November gig roundup

Greg Abate - 2 gigs on Nov 8th

Lots of good music in the North East during November

American bop alto saxophonist Greg Abate puts in two appearances in the North East  - Nov 7 with the Paul Edis Trio at the Black Swan, Newcastle and the following day (1:00pm) working as a duo with pianist Edis at the Gala Theatre, Durham. It is advisable to book now for the Durham gig as it will be an advance sell out - tel: 03000 266 600. Soft Machine rock up at the Cluny, Newcastle on Nov 11. It's a Monday night, so, with little else happening this is your chance to catch up with John Etheridge and co. Twenty four hours later Jamie Toms' Not Now Charlie will play a Hexham Jazz Club gig at the Fox Inn. The volunteer run club helps to keep the jazz flag flying in the Tyne Valley. It's a free admission (donations!) gig so do get along to show your support. Thursday 14 - book a day off work. At 1:10pm in King's Hall, Newcastle University there is a free admission, one set (fifty minutes) by the globe-trotting Sirkis/Bialas IQ. Stay in town then head over to Gosforth Civic Theatre for the debut performance by Mondo Trumpet (7:30pm). A two-trumpet frontline working with an ace piano trio, this could be the start of something. Tyneside based American ex-pat Pete Tanton teams up with fellow trumpeter Graham Hardy to play original material with an international flavour. Tanton promises to sing a few numbers in English and French! The trio - Paul Edis, Andy Champion, Russ Morgan - is an attraction in its own right, linking up with Tanton and Hardy makes this gig an intriguing prospect.

London based Jo Harrop and Jamie McCredie return home, albeit for a day, to play a duo concert at the Lit and Phil, Newcastle (Nov 15, lunchtime) and an evening concert at Holy GrAle on Crossgate, Durham. Vocalist Jo and guitarist Jamie are from these (north eastern) parts and they're welcome anytime.

Finally, one or two other tasty looking gigs - Wednesday 6 sees a debut duo performance by pianist Paul  Edis and adopted Geordie, vocalist Alice Grace. It's a one o'clock start on the mezzanine floor in Newcastle Arts Centre, three quid on the door, it'll be busy. Friday 22 sees an unfortunate clash of gigs little more than a mile apart. At Darlington's Hullabaloo Theatre (Darlington Hippodrome) Edinburgh's brilliant Tenement Jazz Band will entertain Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club's regulars and just up the road at the Traveller's Rest the Mick Shoulder Quintet will be in bop/post bop mode. An interesting couple of changes to the line-up for this one - recent Leeds College of Music graduate Harry Keeble will be blowing tenor (he's one to watch) and one-time Tyneside resident Ben Gilbert will be occupying the piano stool.

* = lunchtime or afternoon
Nov 6 Alice Grace & Paul Edis Jazz Café Mezzanine, Newcastle NE1 1SG*
Nov 6 Mark Williams & Joel Byrne-McCullough Lubetkin Theatre, Peterlee SR8 2RN*
Nov 7 Greg Abate w Paul Edis Trio Black Swan, Newcastle NE1 1SG
Nov 8 Greg Abate & Paul Edis Gala Theatre, Durham DH1 1WA*
Nov 8 Hot Club du Nord St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook DL15 9DN
Nov 8 Dat Brass Head of Steam, Newcastle NE1 5EN
Nov 8 Portico Quartet Sage Gateshead NE8 2JR
Nov 10 Blue Jazz Sextet The Globe, Newcastle NE4 7AD
Nov 11 Soft Machine Cluny, Newcastle NE1 2PQ
Nov 12 Not Now Charlie Fox Inn, Hexham NE46 3DB
Nov 14 Sirkis-Bialas IQ King’s Hall, Newcastle University NE1 7RU*
Nov 14 Mondo Trumpet Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle NE3 3BD
Nov 15 Jo Harrop & Jamie McCredie Lit & Phil, Newcastle NE1 1SE*
Nov 15 Jo Harrop & Jamie McCredie Holy GrAle, Durham DH1 4PR
Nov 16 Emma Johnson’s Gravy Boat The Globe, Newcastle NE4 7AD
Nov 17 Binker Golding + Noya Rao + Francis Tulip Quartet Middlesbrough Town Hall TS1 2QJ*
Nov 17 Classic Swing Black Bull, Blaydon NE21 4JJ
Nov 19 Sarathy Korwar Sage Gateshead NE8 2JR 
Nov 21 Alice Grace-Jordan Alfonso Quintet St James’ & St Basil’s Church, Newcastle NE4 9EJ
Nov 22 Sue Ferris Trio Merry Monk, Bishop Auckland DL14 7NP*
Nov 22 Tenement Jazz Band Theatre Hullabaloo, Darlington DL1 1SG
Nov 22 Mick Shoulder Quintet Traveller’s Rest, Darlington DL3 9ER
Nov 24 Gerry Richardson Quartet The Globe, Newcastle NE4 7AD
Nov 28 ’58 Jazz Collective Hops & Cheese, Hartlepool TS24 7HH

International stars a-plently coming to Leeds this November

Election overload? Come and get a November pick me up at the JazzLeeds concerts this month...

Ingi Bjarni Trio (Iceland)@Inkwell - this Sunday Nov 3 1.30pm
A wam welcome to Inkwell for this excellent piano jazz trio from Iceland.led by pianist Ingi Bjarni Skúlason. "Embracing the infinitely explorable world of the classic jazz piano trio".  Hear "Ballad for my fearless friend"  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38_NJJvNZrc. Ingi Bjarni Skúlason - piano Valdimar Olgeirsson on bass and Óskar Kjartansson on drums

Greg Abate (USA) @Bar on Park Lane Rounday Fri Nov 8th 8pm
Multi saxophonist, known as "The Prince of BeBop". Greg Abate is a US jazz saxophonist, flutist, composer and international jazz recording artist – multi saxophonist. In the mid 70’s after finishing a four year program at Berklee College Of Music, Greg played lead alto for the Ray Charles Orchestra and tenor sax with the revived Artie Shaw Orchestra. These days he ventures out as post hard bop soloist playing jazz festivals and clubs throughout North America and Europe. In 2019 he was voted among the list of the world's best alto sax player by Downbeat magazine. The Adrian Knowles trio are accompanying him : Adrian Knowles bass, Andy Cholerton keyboards and John Settle drums.

Sam Rapley's "Fabled" (UK) Sun 10 Nov Seven Arts 1.30pm
"Fabled" is the brainchild of saxophonist/clarinettist, Sam Rapley. The band have been performing extensively across the UK. Their new "Short Stories" album interprets subjects such as life, love, and death told through richly atmospheric and expressive music, which draws from Rapley and his fellow musicians shared love of jazz ensembles, literature, classical musicians, world music, modern composition and indie-folk. Sam Rapley – saxophone / clarinet, Alex Munk – guitar, Matt Robinson – piano, Conor Chaplin – bass, Will Glaser – drums

Helen Pillinger's : “Ysbryd" (Wales) @Inkwell Sun 17 Nov 1.30pm
"Ysbryd" is an exciting new project from saxophonist Helen Pillinger. Helen has gone back to her Welsh roots (her band contains a harp, of course!) to explore the links between jazz and folksong and the use of improvisation in both styles. Music to please both your mind and soul. .The concert forms part of our Women in Jazz autumn season. Helen Pillinger on tenor saxophone, Helena Summerfied on soprano saxophone, Maddy Herbert on harp, Dave Tompkins on double bass and Phil Bennett on drums.

Rod Mason Rush Hour Jazz @Seven Arts Bar: Wed 20 Nov 6-7pm
Come along after a busy day for some relaxing early evening music with popular saxman Rod Mason, Will Powell on guitar, Steve Crocker bass, Dom Moore drums. Free/payf collection

Ingrid & Christine Jensen with the Whirlwind Jazz Orchestra (US/Canada) @Seven Arts Thus 21 Nov 8pm
A very special treat! As part of our Women Jazz Leaders series we welcome back to JazzLeeds Canadian trumpet player Ingrid Jensen, this time with her sister Christine and an all-star big band. Over the past twenty years or so, as trumpeter and saxophonist respectively, the Canadian Jensen sisters have each shaped prolific careers in contemporary jazz. The programme features original and arranged compositions from both Ingrid and Christine performed by an 18-piece big band which includes a galaxy of leading American and European musicians who are associated with the Whirlwind label: Trumpets: Ingrid Jensen – USA; Nick Smart – UK Kryan Guigley – UK; Andre Canniere – US/UK Trombones Rory Ingham – UK ;Paul Dunlea – Ireland; Richard Henry (bass trombone) – UK  Saxophones Tori Freestone – tenor sax – UK Josephine Davies – tenor sax – UK Rachael Cohen – alto sax – UK Christine Jensen – alto sax – Canada Alex Garnett – baritone sax – UK  Rhythm Section Alcyona Mick – piano/keys – UK Michael Janisch – double & electric bass US/UK Klemens Marktl – drums – Austria

Enrico Marchesi's new group "Cuengo” @Seven Arts Sun 24 Nov 1.30pm
 Italian trumpeter Enrico Marchesi’s new jazz group have their first perfomance at Seven Arts. Trumpeter Enrico Marchesi is a graduate from the “Conservatory G. Donizetti” in Bergamo, Northern Italy, and is currently brass teacher at Horsforth Music Centre Leeds.  Curtis Shaw guitar Gordon Kilroy drums Steve Crocker bass and Enrico Marchesi trumpet

Our Venues: Seven Arts 31 Harrogate Road, Chapel Allerton, Leeds LS7 3PD; Inkwell Arts: 31 Potternewton Lane, Chapel Allerton, Leeds LS7 3LW; Bar on the Park Lane Roundhay (at Roundhay Golf Club) LS82EJ. Tickets https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/jazzleeds. Further information www.jazzleeds.org.uk. Email contact info@jazzleeds.org.uk

See you soon as one of our gigs!

Steve Crocker
JazzLeeds