Preview: Darlington Jazz Festival 2017

(Preview by Russell)

This year’s Darlington Jazz Festival is almost here. From Thursday evening (April 27th) Darlington town centre comes alive with four days of top quality jazz at several welcoming venues. Trumpeter Matt Roberts gets things under way with his now traditional Jazz Improvisation Workshop. This popular event runs from 6:00pm ’til 9:00pm on Thursday at Crown Street Library. Register at 5:30, for a six o’clock start. Matt is an experienced, inspirational educator, and it is all but essential that you register in advance. Email: darlingtonjazzfestival@live.com.

Friday evening comes with a guarantee…a hard bop session the like of which was last heard sixty years ago in NYC. Jazz After Dark in the room above the Voodoo Café features the Matt Roberts Sextet playing the music of some of Roberts’ trumpet heroes. Expect to hear Miles, Fats Navarro, Clifford Brown, Lee Morgan and Freddie Hubbard. Last year’s gig lives on in the memory. As Matt is a local lad made good (living and working in London) this is the gig that other musicians turn out to hear. Twelve months ago the room was heaving, some stood on the stairs, this was 52nd Street! An electric atmosphere, Matt’s A-list sextet blew the roof off the place. If you’re within one hundred miles of Darlington, all roads lead to 84 Skinnergate. Doors at 8:30pm, fireworks from 9:00pm!

Saturday 29th calls for real stamina. Beginning at 12:30pm, adjacent to the Joseph Pease statue at the junction of High Row and Bondgate, there will be an afternoon of free outdoor performances. An opportunity to spot the stars of tomorrow, the Darlington Little Big Band and the South Regional Wind Band are scheduled to perform during the afternoon. Meanwhile, in Mechanics’ Yard, at the Camra award winning Quakerhouse pub, Jazz Comes to the Quakerhouse, kicking off at 1:00pm. It’s free admission all afternoon although donations would be appreciated, and, with an array of first rate musicians on show, a fiver in a collection bucket will seem like a bargain! Two pianists to listen to – Rick Laughlin working with ex-Voice of the North Jazz Orchestra bassist Keith Peberdy and drummer Stu Ellerton, and another local lad, Dean Stockdale entertaining the audience with material from his new album Origin, and, perhaps, some Oscar Peterson. And, whatever you do, don’t miss the Abbie Finn Quartet. Abbie, from this neck of the woods, currently studying at Leeds College of Music, is an outstanding drummer. Expect the Quakerhouse to be standing room only.

The big set piece occasion at this year’s Darlington Jazz Festival is a concert appearance by Dave O’Higgins with the award winning (!) Durham Alumni Big Band at the Majestic Theatre. At seven o’clock on Saturday evening the Art Deco venue is likely to put up the ‘SOLD OUT’ notices. This is a new festival venue, tickets are £12.00. And charts associated with Stan Kenton, Count Basie and Billy May will make for a splendid occasion. Shaune Eland conducts the Alumni, and, as a bonus, there will be a support set beginning at 7:15pm, from yet another award winning band, the Durham County Youth Big Band. To obtain your tickets telephone the Majestic Theatre box office – 01325 482848. And your stamina-sapping day doesn’t end there. It’s all back to the Quakerhouse pub for a late night jam session. Last year the place was so busy some stood in Mechanics’ Yard – punters and musicians.

Sunday 30th - International Jazz Day! - starts early. From 10:30am Emma Fisk and James Birkett will entertain early birds with Joe Venuti-Eddie Lang numbers and more. Free admission/donations at Hash Music Box on Coniscliffe Road. Free! A world class duo, free! At two o’clock the Darlington Quakers and Friends Meeting House hosts Vocal Collective and Locomotive Rhythm. A double bill, the Vocal Collective choir will entertain with traditional and up-to-the-minute tunes. Locomotive Rhythm presents a new work celebrating the area’s railway heritage. Tickets £5.00.

To close this year’s Darlington Jazz Festival Rick Laughlin, Keith Peberdy and Stu Ellerton will play the music of Chick Corea at Hash Music Box. Starting at six o’clock (tickets £6.00.), the gig will also feature the Alumni All Stars. Further details from: www.darlingtonjazzfestival.co.uk. The Darlington Jazz Festival is a highlight of the year. Go on, treat yourself.  

Russell.