Preview: Ushaw Jazz Festival 2017

(Preview by Russell)

Today, at the start of the long August bank holiday weekend, the magnificent Ushaw estate once again plays host to the Ushaw Jazz Festival. Last year’s inaugural event proved beyond doubt that there is a demand for a major festival in County Durham. Jazz fans travelled from all four corners of Britain, with some making the journey from the European continent. This year’s programme is one of quality across three days starting today, Friday 25, to Sunday, August 27.

Director of Ushaw Jazz Festival 2017, Paul Edis, has assembled an array of talent beginning today with a performance by the Early Bird Band (6:00pm). In little more than two years, the development of this young ensemble of promising jazz musicians has been quite remarkable. To the credit of the individuals themselves one or two have already moved on to study at prestigious music schools, and this Ushaw appearance is your chance to check out the next generation.

At 8:00pm,  a treat is in store. The Paul Edis Sextet is one of the great small groups working on today’s British jazz scene. Led by pianist Edis, this hand-picked ensemble with a front line of trumpet, trombone and saxophone, crafts immaculate solos hewn from a growing library of impressive original compositions supported by a truly A-list rhythm section. Art Blakey and Oliver Nelson for the twenty-first century! £8.00.

Joe Venuti and Eddie Lang visit Ushaw on Saturday afternoon. Favourites Emma Fisk, violin, and James Birkett, guitar have quickly established a winning duo formula performing tunes associated with 1920s pioneers Venuti and Lang. Dazzling virtuosity is assured. Come along and be dazzled! One o’clock sharp, £8.00.

Early Bird alumni Francis Tulip brings in a quartet comprising of fellow Birmingham Conservatoire music students to play music inspired by John Coltrane and Wayne Shorter. Francis Tulip, guitar, Will Markham, keyboards, Tommy Fuller, bass, and Kai Charaeunsy, drums, are tipped to steal the show. Be there on what is sure to be a memorable occasion. Saturday 4:00pm. £5.00.

The music of Thelonius Monk offers something new every time. Endlessly inventive, the legendary pianist would, no doubt, be flattered that many of today’s musicians continue to be fascinated with his prodigious output. Saxophonist Graeme Wilson and pianist Paul Edis will maintain the highest of standards with their exploration of the great man’s music. A highlight of the weekend, 6:00pm, a fiver on the door. What a bargain!

The set-piece occasion of this year’s Ushaw Jazz Festival takes place in the Exhibition Hall at eight o’clock on Saturday evening. The Buck Clayton Legacy Band with Lady J recreates the music of one of the enduring partnerships in jazz, that of Buck Clayton and Billie Holiday. Trumpeter Clayton went into the studio in 1937 with members of Teddy Wilson’s band to first record with Holiday. Here at Ushaw, bassist, broadcaster and writer Alyn Shipton makes a welcome return to tell the story of Buck and Billie. Assisting Shipton along the way will be a roll-call of some of the best musicians out there including Alan Barnes, Ian Smith (charged with doing justice to Clayton!) and reeds maestro Matthias Seuffert. £10.00. on the door, but to be sure of your ticket, book in advance by telephone 0191 373 8500.

Any self-respecting jazz festival has a late-night jam session and Ushaw isn’t any different! Starting at 10:15pm, the Francis Thompson Room is the ideal setting for an informal blowing session. Free admission, the bar will be open, you are invited to come along to listen, or, better still, join in! Bring your horn, and you’re in. The Paul Edis Trio will form the house band for the occasion, the sitters-in should be numerous, and, pretty darn good!

Sunday’s schedule begins in a contemporary vein as Gateshead born Chris Sharkey reunites with fellow Gateshead lad, bassist Andy Champion, and drummer Joost Hendrickx to further develop a project initiated at Newcastle’s Jazz Café. Guitarist Sharkey has been reworking classic material from the ’50s and ’60s, melodies subverted, explored and ultimately restored. Highly recommended and a snip at £8.00., one o’clock start.

At 3:00pm Paul Edis invites all to participate in a Jazz Workshop. It’s a collaborative composition and improvisation workshop. Places are limited, available on a first-come-first served basis. To be sure of your place telephone the Ushaw hotline 0191 373 8500. Tickets £5.00.  

The closing event of this year’s Ushaw Jazz Festival features the award winning Leeds-based Tom Sharp Jazz Orchestra. The pad ranges from Buddy Rich to Tom Kubis and more. Sharp’s brilliant outfit won the ‘Best Band’ award at the 2016 Great North Big Band Jazz Festival. A big band delivering a big punch, this is a great way to end a weekend of top class jazz. 6:00pm. £10.00.

Ushaw offers rural tranquility (a couple of miles from Durham City), food, drink, free parking and, as Humph would have said: The very best of jazz. Telephone 0191 373 8500 or visit www.ushaw.org for details of day and weekend tickets.

Russell.