(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
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 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
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/
or http://www.darlingtonjazzfestival.co.uk/
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