Thinking about Jazz Record Requests @ Sage Gateshead - March 18

(Review by Russell)

Jazz Record Requests is required listening. Your weekly Saturday afternoon appointment with Alyn Shipton is the jazz world’s equivalent of devotees of The Archers tuning to BBC Radio 4 Monday to Friday, never missing an episode. This March 18 edition of Jazz Record Requests was broadcast live during BBC Radio 3’s Free Thinking Festival at Sage Gateshead. The concourse overlooking a gray River Tyne a hive of activity – Radio 3 people busying themselves with who knows what and a Tyneside public with a thirst for listening to other people think – the natural meeting place for JRR’s legion of fans, familiar faces at every turn.

Hello to Margaret, Jim and Joyce, just out of a free thinking session with a former Formula 1 World Champion (Damon Hill) and a bit of political free thinking with Harriet Harmon. A hello to John and Kathy, Hugh C (soon to star on JRR), Newcastle Jazz Co-op’s Debra M (anything Hugh can do...), Dr J Birkett on a flying visit, Dr Edis (the star of the show), Kate, Jeremy, Ann Alex and Tony E.

Free Thinkers were everywhere, thinking about thinking. Radio 3’s pop-up studio to one side of the concourse café, a Bentley baby grand tuned ready for Paul Edis to play a selection from There Will Be Time. Tony E wanted to eat, your reviewer fancied a pint. Thinking (it’s contagious), it was a no-brainer…Central Bar, here we come.

Radio 3 runs to time (opera relays the exception!). Four o’clock on the dot Alyn Shipton introduced another edition of Jazz Record Requests. Wireless headphones were freely available to the many JRR listeners on the concourse. A number of Free Thinking thinkers went into the pop-up studio to share thoughts about their chosen disc. Hugh C chose a commissioned Millennium piece by Andy Sheppard and Kathryn Tickell, Debra M opted for Eddie Jefferson’s vocalese take on Bird’s Now’s the Time, plugging the Jazz Co-op into the bargain! Concluding matters, Ros Rigby, until recently a fixture at Sage Gateshead and still involved with the Gateshead International Jazz Festival, spoke to Mr Shipton about this year’s event scheduled for March 31-April 2. The focal point of this edition of JRR was There Will Be Time, Paul Edis’ solo piano CD. Shipton chatted to Edis (see photo) and  Edis played the piano, Vignette a highlight. An excellent way to spend a Saturday afternoon! Let’s hope that Jazz Record Requests returns to the region before too long. Listen again via the BBC’s iPlayer.     

Russell.