Darlington Jazz Festival: A Sunday Summary - May 6

With your regular Darlington reviewer indisposed Bebop Spoken Here is indebted to Tony Eales for providing a round-up of Sunday’s events at this year’s Darlington Jazz Festival. TE’s prediction that Hash Bar would be busy proved to be accurate. The mid-morning brunch session began with Giles Strong and Mick Shoulder playing as a guitar duo to a jam-packed room. Later, Shaun Henderson, fresh from occupying the Durham Alumni’s guitar chair in Central Hall the previous evening, linked-up once again with violinist Gordon Dyke.

TE wandered round to Joseph Pease statue to check out Graham Hardy’s Northern Monkey Brass Band and, to his delight, found Sue Ferris depping on tenor for the absent Jamie Toms. This being a Sunday, BSH’s County Durham correspondent made his way to church. The Paul Edis Trio (with sixteen-year-old Dylan Thompson depping on drums – yes, he’s more than good enough!) worked alongside Vocal Collective and festival guest star Alan Barnes.

A man with stamina is TE. The Keys on Skinnergate hosted the festival finale featuring trombonist Dennis Rollins’ Funky Funk Band, and, no surprise, TE was there! Well attended and loud, so said our County Durham man. A weekend of good attendances and fantastic jazz, roll on next year!     

Russell.