April 2025.
Wed 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 23: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Thu 24: Mary Coughlan @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £33.80. Blues, jazz etc.
Thu 24: Darlington Big Band @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.
Fri 25: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT! Duo performance.
Fri 25: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 25: Andrea Vicari Trio @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. Vicari (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); Russ Morgan (drums).
Fri 25: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 25: Red Kites Jazz @ Land of Oak & Iron, Winlaton Mill. 6:00-9:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Fri 25: Struggle Buggy @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. Rhythm & blues.
Fri 25: Paul Skerritt Big Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £20.30., £18.00. All-star big band.
Fri 25: Andrea Vicari Trio @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Vicari (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); Russ Morgan (drums). An Opus 4 Jazz Club event.
Sat 26: Durham Alumni Big Band @ Number One Bar, Darlington. 12 noon. Free (donations).
Sat 26: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 26: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ Elvet Methodist Church, Durham. 7:30pm. Tickets: £12.00. + bf. Duo performance.
Sat 26: Neil Cowley Trio @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £22.50.
Sat 26: Pete Tanton & the Cuban Heels @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 27: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 27: Andrea Vicari Trio @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. Vicari (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Sun 27: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 27: Vasilis Xenopoulos-Paul Edis Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. Xenopoulos, Edis, Paul Susans, Russ Morgan.
Sun 27: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 27: JustKing Jones @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £17.50. JustKing Jones (alto sax, soprano sax); Jordan Williams (piano); Jason Clotter (bass); Malcolm Charles (drums). Ace NYC outfit!
Sun 27: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 27: Swing Manouche @ Warkworth Memorial Hall. 7:30pm. £15.00. Tickets from 01665 711388.
Sun 27: Vasilis Xenopoulos-Paul Edis Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Xenopoulos, Edis, Ken Marley, Russ Morgan.
Mon 28: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Tue 29: ???
The word has just reached me that sax player Darren Grainger passed away last night.
11 comments :
I met Darren about eight years ago at the Beamish Mary pub, and he was just getting together with his horn then, we had lots a chat and rapport.. Later I met Marta at the Chilly and she was lovely, they were soul mates. He will be sadly missed by all the gang..
RIP Darren..
Eric Stutt
Darren was a wonderful person, very kind and loving. He loved music and playing... I miss him greatly, RIP Dearest Darren xxx
Marta Roberts
To Darren family and Martha,
The Andall family send there deepest sympathy for your loss.
May he rest in peace.
Bill and family.
RIP to one of the nicest people I ever met. Darren could communicate with anyone, both musically and personally. He was such a warm individual, and we were awed by his strength and positivity in what turned out to be his final months.
Deepest sympathy to Marta and to Darren's family.
Jude
We first met Darren one Sunday night eight or nine years ago at the Beamish Mary pub in the village of No Place, where we had a jazz workshop going under the name "No Place For Jazz". He'd had some prior experience in reading charts through playing in a big band at college, and he soon became a regular, getting to grips with improvisation, and improving all the time. He also played with young bands doing other types of music, and I once asked him how that contrasted with the jazz thing. "It's alright, Dave, I take a lot of what I learn with you guys and apply it there; it's all good." He was also known as "The Sax Machine", and did lots of gigs all over the Northeast, either with bands, or even playing solo saxophone using tracks, so a lot of people heard him over the years. We love and miss him a lot, and hope his soul will rest in peace. Dave - -Take It To The Bridge
Hi Lance
I'd say hello to Darren at gigs. A while ago we chatted about the difficult times he was having. He seemed to be a very positive, friendly bloke.
Russell
I was saddened to hear the news of Darren Grainger's passing - as were several of my colleagues who knew him at Macmillan Cancer Support. I interviewed him last year for an article in the Royal Marsden Hospital's internal magazine, and he was wonderfully optimistic about life, and showed a true commitment to helping raise awareness for the disease. Deepest condolences to Darren's family and partner from all at Macmillan Cancer Support.
i knew darren for several years as he was my form teacher and maths teacher at both parkway and linhope schools. every morning we would go into class and he'd be there always calm and colective no matter what. he was genuinely one of the most nicest kindest people you could ever meet. my fondest memory of darren was when our classroom assistant danny was leaving for pastures new he asked me if i wanted to go with him and get danny a farewell present, im pretty sure he never asked the head teacher for permission but darren as always was doing something nice for someone. we got him mike basett england manager the film. it sad of me to remember something like that but darren was such a stand up bloke i'll never forget. im sorry im posting this so long after his passing but i have only just found out. thanks for everything darren and sorry for any hard times we may of given you when we were at school.
Thanks, Lance for the info on the comment by Darren Wood on Darren. Currently I am in Poland on holiday, this is First time without Darren going to Poland so it's a bit hard...The message is wonderful and truly reflects what kind of person Darren really was. I have to say that I am still comming to terms with the loss of Darren and learning to be on my own... Apart from this I have had good time here in Poland trying to relax I have gone for four day course very near border with Bielaruss 800 meters away! doing yoga wich was great! Polish nature is incredibly beautiful and there are amazing forests. It is very hot here over 30 degrees! Regards, Marta
Just wanted to leave a message here. Sax-Man (as I knew him before he gave himself the Sax Machine nickname) would have been 40 yesterday.
I'd known him since '92, where we met at uni. There are far too many memories I have for me to list them all here, but Marta, if you're reading this, here's one: it was good to get you and Sax-Man to the Meza Bar in London. Great food, good company and conversation. I just wish it was under better circumstances.
Sax-Man, you rest in peace, boss.
Carl
Hi Carl!
It's Marta here, it is nice of you to continiue to remember Darren...
I know from Darren you and Him were good friends at Uni. If you would like to get in touch with me plese leave your no at this E-mail adress: kasik@talktalk.net
Take care Marta
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