Faye MacCalman, Graeme Wilson, James Mainwaring (reeds); Graham Hardy (trumpet); Mark Williams (guitar); Beatrix Ward-Fernandez (theremin); Corey Mwamba (vibes); Aby Vulliamy (viola & backing vocals); Johnny Richards (keyboards); Andy Champion (bass); Steve Hanley (drums); Zoë Gilby (voice)
Tuesday 13th December | 8.00pm
Black Swan Bar & Venue | Black Swan Court | 59 Westgate Road | Newcastle NE1 1SG
Tickets £13.00 | £10.00 concessions from the Jazz Café (0191 222 9882), Reflex Records (0191 260 3246), or www.seetickets.com
The closer we get to this, the greater my excitement and anticipation. I've been granted a preview of the programme notes (which will be given out at the gig) in which the writers of the five original compositions explain (in varying degrees of detail) the thinking behind their pieces - T Dan Smith, Roxy Music, Paul Gascoigne and photographer Sirkka-Lisa Kontinnen are amongst those who get a mention, so it seems certain that we'll be in for a varied and intriguing night of music.
But the intention is also that this will be the beginning of an ongoing project. The band's name reflects Jazz North East's intention to partially vary the membership of the Orchestra each year, combining change with continuity - the 'Fluid' concept - and to annually commission further work from musicians in the North East and elsewhere in the north. It's an ambitious and unusual concept (the French Orchestra National de Jazz may be the nearest equivalent), and will be dependent on JNE obtaining funding to sustain it, but it holds out the prospect of distinctive playing and composing opportunities for adventurous musicians across the region.
If JNE don't manage to get financial support, this concert could be a unique occasion. And if they do, well, this is the opportunity to be present at the launch of something that has the potential to be very special. Either way, it is surely unmissable for anybody who wants to see a vibrant, creative and high quality jazz scene sustained on Tyneside.
Paul Bream
4 comments :
Number one wife isn't prepared to accompany me, leaving number 2 son alone for the night, but she's agreed to facilitate the consumption of alcohol by collecting me from Durham Train Station.
Anybody got a best guesstimate as to when it might end.
Guesstimate? How's about when the sax player takes the mouthpiece out of his mouth? Check out the last train times...
Last train a measly 10.45 which could go either way.
All been done before -- Vienna Art Orchestra way back when with Matthias Ruegg etc . Good to see he the " unconventional " is alive and well in the North East though .
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