GATESHEAD INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL SEES STARS AND STRIPES FOR ITS TENTH EDITION

The North East is preparing for an American invasion of the musical kind to mark the 10^th anniversary of the UK’s biggest jazz festival under one roof outside London..

Tickets are now on sale for some of the headliners at Gateshead International Jazz Festival, which brings a whole host of jazz performers together under one roof at Sage Gateshead from Friday 4^th - Sunday 6^th April 2014.

Combining musical performances with opportunities for the public to get involved, the variety of artists and styles mean you don’t have to be a jazz aficionado to have a great time.

Ros Rigby, Performance Programme Director at Sage Gateshead, said: “Gateshead International Jazz Festival really is something everyone should experience. The type of music that counts as jazz often surprises people so people who think they are new to the genre are often bigger jazz fans than they first thought!

“For the 10^th Jazz Festival we have our strongest ever line up, with stars from the jazz scene coming to Gateshead from across the UK and Europe – as well as some great American names. Tickets are now on sale for some of the headliners and we’re expecting them to go fast as it’s a rare chance to see some of these artists in the North East.”

The American visitors include jazz pianist and producer Robert Glasper who is bringing his unique brand of late night cool to the Festival and expected to sell out fast. Texas-born Glasper has worked with Jay-Z, Kanye West and Erykah Badu and is known for his special blend of jazz with hip-hop.

The talents of vocalist and bass player Esperanza Spalding – the first jazz artist to win a Best New Artist Grammy Award - saxophonist Joe Lovano and the hugely respected and prolific jazz fusion drummer Jack DeJohnette, will be performing as part of a new line-up called The Spring Quartet.

And the Bill Frisell Trio, featuring one of the world’s favourite jazz guitarists, will be another major highlight.

The Festival always also includes great performers from across Europe and this year will welcome the Norrbotten Big Band from the far north of Sweden, with the acclaimed UK jazz composer Django Bates performing his Charlie Parker inspired programme which received excellent reviews at the BBC Proms this year. This event will also feature Swedish saxophonist Joakim Milder and his suite of jazz arrangements of the music of the North East’s own Prefab Sprout. 

In addition to spanning the generations from established to emerging stars, the festival features opportunities to participate for both adults and young people, plus talks and interviews to give audiences a chance to really get behind the music. 

Rosemary Maddy from Prudhoe came along to the festival last year because her husband is a big jazz fan with a wide musical taste. She said: “I was really surprised by how many types of music that jazz covers and had a brilliant time. The three piece jazz band Phronesis were playing and everyone in Hall Two was rapt. I've been a ‘proper’ jazz fan ever since.

“The fact it all happens in one place, and there’s so much going on, was a real plus for me and I’m really looking forward to the weekend in April now.”

The Gateshead International Jazz Festival was the first festival held in Sage Gateshead after its opening in December 2004, and since that time has established itself on the UK scene, attracting visitors from across the UK and beyond to the North East over the last nine years. It is organised in collaboration with the London based music producers Serious who organise the annual London Jazz Festival and a range of other tours and projects.

Ros Rigby from Sage Gateshead commented: “The combination of our star American and European artists and all the extras to see and do over the weekend mean we’re expecting to welcome the festival’s biggest ever audience. Whatever your musical tastes and whatever the weather on the weekend, it will be worth coming on down.”

Gateshead International Jazz Festival takes place at Sage Gateshead Friday April 4 to Sunday April 6, 2013. Tickets can be booked either by calling 0191 443 4661, online at www.sagegateshead.com or in person from Sage Gateshead’s Ticket Office.