Gateshead International Jazz Festival – ten days and counting! Day 3 Preview.

(Preview by Russell)

Ten days to go. The 2015 edition of the Gateshead International Jazz Festival at Sage Gateshead boasts what could be described as the best ever line-up on the banks of the Tyne. Stan Tracey’s Under Milk Wood, David Sanborn and John Scofield on day one, Joshua Redman, Zoe Gilby and Beats and Pieces on day two, day three offers several highlights likely to top ‘em all.

Day Three – Sunday 12 April

For three days Sage Gateshead’s river front concourse is like Piccadilly Circus. You’re unlikely to be knocked over by a London bus but you could well bump into a superstar from the jazz world. Stop, say ‘hello’, take a photograph, and get an autograph! The record stall (real 180g vinyl sits alongside hundreds of CDs) will relieve you of a few quid, as will Hadrian Border Brewery’s Byker Jazz. Then there is the concourse café and don’t forget Sage Gateshead’s well-stocked shop. All this and, to coin a phrase: All That Jazz.

(Editorial note: Not forgetting that the Jazz Coop, based at the Globe Jazz Bar on Railway St, Newcastle, who work alongside Sage Gateshead in organizing various jazz workshops, will also have a stand on the concourse where interested parties can learn more about this exciting venture - which is about to celebrate its first anniversary in spectacular style - and even become a part of it!)

Last night’s late night jam session (Saturday night/Sunday morning) at the Jazz Café an unforgettable occasion, a Sunday morning fry-up for some (brunch at Sage Gateshead a more refined option) should get the fuzzy-headed Byker Jazz imbibers back on the road. Pitch up in time for the 1:30pm resumption of top class jazz on the concourse – it’s free! Keep an eye out for an on-the-day programme detailing the schedule of musicians to be heard throughout the afternoon culminating at half past six with a meeting of Jambone and Beats and Pieces. Jambone is Sage Gateshead’s in-house youth ensemble. Some of the students will perform alongside Ben Cottrell’s fantastic Beats and Pieces outfit. One of the day’s highlights, for sure.

Earlier, at 2:00pm in Hall Two, one of the great line-ups of all time will take to the stage. The Cookers are the living legacy of American hard bop. A 24 carat septet will reaffirm the belief that Bop Lives! Piano, bass and drums would be a dream-ticket gig in itself. To describe George Cables (piano), Cecil McBee (double bass) and Billy Hart (drums) as a ‘rhythm section’ would be to refer to Duke Ellington as a mere ‘piano player’. Thousands of gigs in their collective memory bank, and as many recording sessions, these guys are, no doubt about it, the ‘real deal’. The frontline has seen and done it all; Billy Harper tenor saxophone, Jaleel Shaw alto saxophone, Eddie Henderson trumpet and David Weiss trumpet. If there is one ticket left unsold…no, there won’t be. Book now – contact Sage Gateshead’s ticket office – 0191 443 4661. The Cookers will be in conversation pre concert (1:00pm) with Kevin LeGendre, free to ticket holders.

There is a counter attraction to the American superstars. At half past two in the Northern Rock Foundation Hall Tin Men and the Telephone will develop an interactive event in which the audience can contribute to the performance. Facebook messaging and tweeting from the on-stage trio will invite you the audience to become part of the performance. A gadget geek’s dream – download the app at tinyurl/tinmendo.

Sunday evening brings all three performance spaces into play. Three concerts starting at fifteen minute intervals beginning at 7:30pm. Sandwiched in between Halls One and Two at 7:45pm is Jazz North East’s Women Make Music double bill. Expect composed and freely improvised music (variously colliding, sidestepping and complementing) from two groups of musicians. Sloth Racket is Cath Roberts' current concern. The saxophonist’s band mates will perform new material veering off into freely improvised territory. Tenor man Sam Andreae joins Roberts alongside Anton Hunter guitar, Seth Bennett bass and Johnny Hunter drums. The improv trio of Musson-Kjaer-Marshall work with unusual instrumentation – two saxophones Rachel Musson and Julie Kjaer and cellist Hannah Marshall. Most of the musicians have previously visited Tyneside, those who have heard them will have some idea of what to expect.

Earlier in the day (3:00pm) Cath Roberts and Rachel Musson will lead a workshop in free improvisation in Sage Gateshead’s basement Music Education Centre (free to concert ticket holders). Flanking Jazz North East’s Jazz Lounge (Northern Rock Foundation Hall) event are two contrasting concerts. At 7:30pm in the grand surroundings of Hall One there is another double bill. Andy Sheppard and Rita Marcotulli open the final concert at this year’s festival. The duo – reeds and piano – have established a regular working partnership and their intimate conversation will be in stark contrast to the other half of the entertainment – it will be entertaining.

Loose Tubes are back! Thirty years on, the anarchic free spirits (all twenty one of them) will renew, rework and reveal new work to what is sure to be a 1700 sell-out audience. Since their mid 1980s formation (several albums and tours) band members have gone on to establish high profile careers on the British and international jazz scene. A composers’ band with award-winning writers in the ranks, post-Loose Tubes work is as diverse as it could possibly be. Solo to big band, across the spectrum, commissions, jazz club to festival appearances, all have been and are busy. This Sage Gateshead concert will feature new work (new work was, and is, the raison d’etre).

Last year’s SummerTyne Americana at Sage Gateshead witnessed one of the great spell-binding performances in the ten year history of the venue. Hall Two, 8:00pm, brings the curtain down on the 2015 Gateshead International Jazz Festival with the return of Davina and the Vagabonds. Dakota-based Davina Sowers sat at the keyboard and hollered big style from the outdoor stage in Sage Gateshead’s Performance Square captivating those present. I’d Rather go Blind lives on in the memory. Her band of gritty, streetwise guys – Daniel Eikmeier (trumpet & vocals), Ben Link (trombone), Andrew Burns (double bass) and drummer Connor McCrae-Hamergren – know how to play to the crowd with top-drawer, wild man solos. Davina’s show blew away the rain clouds last year, this time the roof in Hall Two will be visibly lifted. What a way to bring the curtain down on the 2015 Gateshead International Jazz Festival! Book tickets now by contacting Sage Gateshead’s ticket office – 0191 443 4661. Ten days and counting…           

Russell.
Day One Preview.
Day Two Preview.