Durham Jazz Festival at Ushaw!

(Preview by Russell)

Building on the success of regular monthly jazz gigs at Ushaw College, pianist Paul Edis has been working away behind the scenes planning a jazz festival. The first Durham Jazz Festival at Ushaw will take place over the August Bank Holiday weekend (Friday 26th – Sunday 28th). The long-weekend event will take place in the splendour of Ushaw College on the outskirts of Durham. A former Catholic seminary, the vast Ushaw woodland estate with its landscaped gardens and ornamental lake will make an idyllic summer jazz venue.

Musicians confirmed for the inaugural Durham Jazz Festival at Ushaw include the superb Northern Monkey Brass Band as festival openers at six o’clock on Friday 26 August. The New Orleans second line dance grooves of Graham Hardy’s brass outfit will have ’em up dancing from the off! Later in the evening the acclaimed Zoë Gilby Quartet will maintain the highest of standards.

Saturday gets off to an early start with, appropriately, the Early Bird Band at 11:00am. In double quick time the teenage Early Birds have developed into a confident, gigging band, writing material and, under the guidance of Paul Edis, the future looks bright. Dr Edis has promised to lead an afternoon workshop and will be followed by author, broadcaster and musician Alyn Shipton and Alan Barnes in a ‘What is Jazz?’ presentation. Don’t miss the duo. They will be informative and, knowing Alan Barnes, side-splittingly hilarious!

Early Saturday evening is one for lovers of classic jazz guitar. The duo of Mark Williams and Joel Byrne-McCullough, friends from college days, will astonish those yet to hear the Irishmen. Those who have heard them won’t want to miss this special festival occasion.

The headliners come no better than Alan Barnes and Bruce Adams. World class jazz, it’s as simple as that. British musicians of international standing, the reeds and brass duo will be working with the incomparable Paul Edis Trio. Saturday’s entertainment concludes in time honoured jazz festival style with a late night jam session featuring the Peter Gilligan Trio. Sitters-in are positively encouraged, it’s the stuff of a great jam session!

Sunday’s events are scheduled to begin early in the day with light refreshments available for those making a day of it. A late afternoon concert featuring the unique New Century Ragtime Orchestra will delight festival goers, then at eight o’clock the first Durham Jazz Festival at Ushaw will be brought to a close by the dynamic Nigel Price Trio.

A festival programme will be available soon with full details of the weekend’s line-up, admission prices, directions to Ushaw College (DH7 9RH) and much more.

Russell.

There is a monthly, year round programme of jazz at Ushaw. Why not give it a try? The next gig on February 26 features the ‘classic jazz’ Virtuoso Jazz Trio. Admission £7.00 starting at 7:30pm. Future concerts include: April 29 James Birkett & Bradley Johnston,

May 27 Sue Ferris Quintet, June 24 Customs House Big Band, July 29 Paul Edis Sextet   

and, on September 30, Alice Grace Quintet. To reserve tickets telephone 0191 334 6423