May.
Wed 25: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 25: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 25: Four @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:00pm.
Wed 25: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.
Thu 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, North Tyneside. 1:00pm.
Thu 26: Deep Pope + Garner & Pope @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £7.00.
Thu 26: 58 Jazz Collective @ Hops & Cheese, Hartlepool. 7:30pm.
Thu 26: Knats @ Hoochie Coochie, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Thu 26: Jeremy McMurray & the Pocket Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm.
Thu 26: Maine Street Jazzmen @ Sunniside Social Club, Gateshead. 8:30pm.
Thu 26: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.
Fri 27: Alice Grace Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm.
Fri 27: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 27: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm.
Fri 27: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.
Fri 27: Fergus McCreadie Trio @ The Witham, Barnard Castle. 7:30pm.
Sat 28: Whitley Bay Carnival: Northern Monkey Brass Band (1:00-1:45pm & 4:00-4:45pm); Baghdaddies (2:00-2:45pm & 5:00-5:45pm) @ Spanish City Plaza Arena, Whitley Bay. Northern Monkey Brass Band (2:30-2:45pm) @ Rainbow Corner (Marine Ave.), Whitley Bay.
Sat 28: Jack Logan & the Swing Section @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 29 Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Spanish City, Whitley Bay. 12 noon.
Sun 29: Musicians Unlimited @ Hartlepool United Supporters’ Club, Hartlepool. 1:00pm.
Sun 29: Foundry Jazz Ensemble @ The Exchange, North Shields. 3:00pm.
Sun 29: Groovetrain @ Tyne Bar, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free.
Sun 29: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ Allendale Village Hall, Northumberland. 7:30pm.
Sun 29: Two of a Mind: Sue Ferris-Steve Summers Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £10.00 adv., £12.00. door.
Sun 29: Cedric Burnside @ Cluny, Newcastle. Superb Mississippi hill country blues!
Mon 30: Jazz in the Afternoon @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Tue 31: Jam session @ Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. House trio: Stu Collingwood, Paul Grainger, Rob Walker.
10 comments :
A lovely man and a great musician. He will be much missed.
Very sad to hear this. Ray was a lovely man.
He brought his superb big band to Blaydon in October 2011 and everyone loved it, the way he presented it, the whole thing was a joy.
Roly
Very sad to hear this. I phoned Ray about 6 weeks ago and he sounded good but I was concerned when he told me he was having carers in 3 times per day and to help him to bed. I had known Ray for a long time as well as his wife Joan, who was an amazing woman and very supportive of Ray in his musical career.
She worked full time so that he could go to College full time to obtain his qualifications. He was an excellent arranger--probably his best talent! He provided years of work for local musos as well as vocalists including myself. He had a lovely family who will be extremely distressed--they looked after him as much as possible.
He had a problem with 'clumsiness' which was well known--on one gig he (1) knocked over my drink (2) knocked over his own pint all over the pad on the floor (3) the stand for the keyboard which was converted from Joan's old ironing board, collapsed! and as it was Xmas and very large trees were stationed at each side of the stage, the drummer hissed at me ''for Gawds sake keep him away from the b......y trees!!
I could give you many more stories like these which have kept us entertained over the years but I was very grateful that Ray gave me work when I really needed the gigs when my son was young. He will be sorely missed--his big band was very popular and his enthusiasm and knowledge was outstanding.
Anne DeVere
P.S. Please no more we are getting scared!!
I am in mourning. My Musical Director, Arranger, Big Band Leader and personal friend Ray Chester passed away this morning. When I got the news at 4.13 this morning I was OK but after speaking to and sending messages to the few musicians I have in my library I am feeling very teary. I cannot comprehend how his family is coping. I watched the BBC4 proms with John Williams tonight which was a repeat. First time round Ray rang me to see if I was watching it - weird really. Ray and I used to buy each other tickets for our birthdays to see various concerts at the Sage. How I will miss those "nights out". God Bless you Ray. Let perpetual light shine upon you and may you rest in peace. Your Songbird M xxx
Many thanks for all your lovely tributes to my dad.
They're very much appreciated by me and all of the family.
Ian Chester
Ray was a fine player, soloist and great asset to tighten up the Trombone section. On many occasions he played with the Newcastle Big Band, and his scholarly approach to precision brightened up the powerful sound of an often 4 instrument section.
I was saddened to hear of his passing. The last time I heard him play was a few years ago when we put a private little gig together at the Baltic to celebrate Sting's music award.
He was quipping, grinning and enjoying being a consumate "Team" player. My sympathies to his family.
Andy Hudson
So very sad to hear the news about Ray,a lovely man who gave so much to the music scene here in the North East.
I spent some time talking with him last year at the Corner House after i had played in the Mike Gilbey tribute night. I thoroughly enjoyed his company and we had a good laugh going through some memories and stories from over the years.He will be missed by us all.
My sympathies to his family.
Scott Adair
My wife and I were fortunate to work at Reyrolle's of Hebburn in the 1960's and got to know Ray a multi talented musician with a very pleasant personality.
Sorry to hear of his passing.
Jim and Valerie Mcdowell
If you would like to know more about Ray's work and leave a tribute.....his website is here...
http://51958003.gb.strato-hosting.eu/RCBB/
copy and paste this in your address bar
If you missed Ray's ceremony you can read about it too.
Our thoughts are with Ray's family at this very sad time.
Ray Chester was one of my comprehensive school teachers and I also went along to his Saturday morning music sessions in Shields. I am told my biological father was in the Ray Chester Big Band many years ago - played drums, but no contact since I was around 5. I have fond memoried of Ray and he tolerated my flute and saxaphone efforts remarkably well !
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