Preview Darlington Jazz Festival April 24 – 27

(Preview by Russell).

The third Darlington Jazz Festival runs over four days, at three venues, wider in scope and ambition. The Forum Music Centre on Borough Road (the event’s HQ in previous years) presents a workshop and a full day of music (twelve hours worth!), the Head of Steam  (Darlington Railway Museum) on Station Road (a new venue) offers ten hours of jazz and the Voodoo Café on Skinnergate hosts a late night session of danceable Latin American sounds.

The first event takes place at the Forum on Thursday evening (April 24). Trumpeter Matt Roberts will lead a workshop for all ages and abilities, sectional tutors will be on hand and take note - the event is certain to be over-subscribed, so be quick, contact details. The workshop fee is a bargain £6.00., 5:30 pm start.

Friday evening (April 25) from 10:00 pm get down to the Voodoo Café on Skinnergate to listen - and dance - to the infectious rhythms of Burundanga. A heady mix of Afro-Cuban, funk, reggae, Latin jazz sounds guarantees a percussion-led party of mega proportions!

Day one of the festival proper - Saturday 26 - begins at one o’clock at the Forum. The programme’s first session opens with the pride of County Durham - the Durham County Youth Big Band. The band performs regularly in the region and beyond (European jaunts help spread the word) and cannot help but pick up awards along the way! Arrive early, don’t miss this fantastic band.

At two o’clock the voice and bass duo of Zoe Gilby and Andy Champion will surely inspire the young musician. Consummate musicians at the top of their game, Zoe and Andy will delight and astonish in equal measure. Yorkshire’s Jamil Sheriff Trio follow at 3:00 pm. A recent appearance in the north east heard the trio - Jamil Sheriff (piano), Pete Turner (double bass) and Dave Walsh (drums) - in top form, swinging mightily on standards and originals.

The Tyneside-based Debra Milne Ensemble (4:00 pm) features the vocals of Debra Milne in a set of bop standards, some lesser known material and original compositions written by bandleader Milne and songwriting partner Steve Glendinning (guitar). The experienced rhythm section - Paul Grainger (double bass) and Tim Johnston (drums) - work sympathetically behind Ms Milne and if a recent gig in an empty shop in Durham (yes, an empty shop!) is anything to go by the quartet will tempt in the jazz window shopper. The afternoon session ends at five o’clock with the Darlington Big Band. The county’s youth players opened the session and many of them will surely graduate to the ranks of this accomplished big band led by Richie Emmerson. The bar will be open (a regional micro brew is usually available), be quick because at the end of their set the big band boys could well beat you to the bar!

The second session starts at seven o’clock with guitarist Tom Stephenson. An award winning young musician from the Durham County Youth Big Band, Tom and friends will be working in the informal setting of the Forum’s bar. At 8:00 pm there is, perhaps, the set of the festival. World class trombonist Mark Nightingale takes to the stage in the adjacent hall with the magnificent Durham Alumni Big Band. Expect to hear the best - soloists, ensemble and Mark Nightingale. Late night in the bar you can listen to the swinging pianist Alan Law, the Jazztones and friends. You like a jam session? Whatever you do, don’t miss this one!

Day two - Sunday 27 - of the festival moves to the Head of Steam (Darlington Railway Museum) on North Road. The third session kicks off at eleven o’clock (am, that is!) with a young combo known as Jazz in My Pants. These guys could well have ants in their pants such is their non-stop, energetic street jazz performance! Inspired by the music of New Orleans street brass players heard at Durham: Brass Festival they are sure to stoke the fires of the Head of Steam’s gleaming engines. Full steam ahead! Steaming down the Tyne Valley line, due to arrive at noon, will be the express service known as the Tyne Valley Big Band. This is a big band, so big they may not all get a seat on the express. Book your tickets now - front row, first class, at the Head of Steam! One hour later the Slowlight Quartet pull in. Tom Quilliam’s saxophone attack takes no prisoners and his band mates - Paul Lorraine (keyboards), Ian ‘Dodge’ Paterson (bass) and Jonathan Marriott (drums) - will further enhance an impressive gigging cv.

Stand clear of the platform!  The band now arriving at Platform Jazz, is the 2:00 pm from the world of Big Boy Jazz! ACV, Andy Champion’s first class juggernaut of a band (standard class not available) rolls in to town. Quick, grab a drink, a sarnie and settle down for an electrifying experience. Bassist Andy Champion brings to town Graeme Wilson (reeds), Mark Williams (guitar), Paul Edis (keyboards) and Adrian Tilbrook (drums). Forget the Flying Scotsman, take photographs, jot down the names (jazz train-spotter style), ACV are in town.

Thursday’s workshop session follows up on this Sunday afternoon with a public performance, the tutors sharing the limelight. Mick Shoulder (double bass), Emma Fisk (violin), James Birkett (guitar) and Giles Strong (guitar) are Djangologie. The Hot Club specialists are due in at four o’clock on the Django Express direct from the Left Bank (or is that South Bank, Teesside?). C’est magnifique!. The afternoon session ends on a high with Alter Ego. Hard blowin’ bop - Dave Hignett (trumpet), Niall Armstrong (reeds), Keith Robinson (reeds), Andy Hawking (keyboards),Tony Abell (double bass) & David Francis (drums) - great stuff!

The fourth session (the closing session) - the Jazz Club - will be a winner, no question. The Little Big Band is the feeder band into the Durham County Youth Big Band. Be prepared to shed a tear. Young musicians, some no taller than a hi-hat, giving it their all. The betting is in ten years’ time you’ll be offering some of them a gig at your local jazz club. Finally, before you catch that last train, wait a while. The Al Wood Nine will impress you no end. Trumpeter Wood’s nonet will close the festival in style - Jim Corry (alto), James Russell (alto), Stuart MacDonald (tenor), Simon Kaylor (tenor), Sam Thornton (baritone), Phil Steel (piano), Gary Jackson (double bass) and Bob Husband (drums).

(Russell).

DETAILS OF ADMISSION TO THE THIRD DARLINGTON JAZZ FESTIVAL 

Tickets available from the Forum Music Centre box office – 01325 363135
or http://www.darlingtonjazzfestival.co.uk/