(By Russell)
Once upon a time a big band MD came
up with the idea of organising a jazz festival. Will it work? enquired some, It'll never
work! declared others. Undaunted, the idea took root and in no time
the event envisaged by Newcastle Big Band MD Andy Hudson began to take shape. Jazz North East's Honourary Secretary Chris Yates was enlisted to lend his expertise and went on to write the festival programme notes as well as assisting in the organisation for something like two decades. It was 1974 and the Newcastle Jazz Festival was
born.
The Guildhall on Newcastle's Quayside
staged ten nights of jazz; Chris Barber, Humphrey Lyttleton, Ronnie Scott, Back
Door, SOS (John Surman-Mike Osborne-Alan Skidmore), Henry Lowther, Pete King, Graham
Collier (a Tynemouth lad) alongside film screenings, lectures and a riverboat
shuffle. In addition, a satellite venue hosted a programme of free jazz and
free improvisation. Andy Hudson (MD, Newcastle Big Band) had seen his dream of
a jazz festival on Tyneside come true to the extent that by the following year it had outgrown the Guildhall and moved on to the University Theatre, which became Newcastle Playhouse (now Northern Stage) and which remained its base for the following 20 years.
From '74 through to 1995 the
Newcastle Jazz Festival developed into a truly international affair. Local
authority and Arts Council funding allied to major sponsorship deals (regional
radio stations included) enabled British names - Stan Tracey, George Melly,
Mike Westbrook, Loose Tubes - to share the limelight with legendary American
musicians including Bud Freeman, Wild Bill Davison, Roland Kirk, Art Pepper,
Teddy Wilson, Barney Kessel and Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers.
As the millennium loomed funding
priorities began to change and when the plug was pulled the Newcastle Jazz
Festival went down the drain...until now.
Once upon a time (a few months ago!)
a big band MD came up with the idea of reviving the Newcastle Jazz Festival.
Michael Lamb, MD of the Strictly Smokin' Big Band set about putting together a
one day event and, with the help of several of his SSBB mates, this Saturday
(August 17) marks the relaunch of a fondly remembered event. The Tyne Bank
Brewery on Walker Road (just east of the Ouseburn) is the place to be from
early afternoon 'til late. The line-up, in running order - Zoë Gilby & Andy
Champion, Alan Law Trio, Mark Williams Trio, Emma Fisk & James Birkett,
Alexander Bone, Strictly Smokin' Big Band - offers something for everyone. Tickets
£15, book now: www.newcastlejazzfestival.co.uk
2 comments :
Many thanks for this Russell - fascinating as well is the archive of images from NJF here: https://get.google.com/albumarchive/117692566320026872324/album/AF1QipPkGfc_0cB7uKB_phzwvyJI_cJC1mvB1qtp_cr3
Must mention that Jamie Toms has been equally involved in the organising of NJF 2019! :)
M
Brilliant to see this archive - what an amazing selection of posters, gig tickets, etc. All those iconic names from the past - and oh, to have been at some of those concerts! Plus, the more recent selection from local gigs and events. This is one fantastic collection, wherever it is!
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