Preview: Newcastle Jazz Festival (Sunday 15)

(Photo by Lance)

First things first...only a handful of tickets are available for the final day of this year's festival. Those who hesitate and all that...book now! Tickets booked, what will you get for your tenner? A drummer led trio with an album to promote, an organ led quartet with nothing to prove, a Northern Line supported outfit, a Gerry Mulligan set and a celebrated Canadian trumpeter working with some of the best in the business. 

Abbie Finn (Leeds College of Music, Trinity Laban) is picking up gigs right, left and centre. This afternoon, drummer Abbie kicks off this Sunday session (1:30 prompt) with her trio playing numbers from Northern Perspective. Abbie, drums, Harry Keeble, tenor sax, and bassist Paul Grainger will set the standard for others to follow. 

And following Abbie, one of the great bands, period. Gerry Richardson is the boss of the Hammond. Gerry's quartet is scheduled to take to the stage at 2:40. Leave that second Yorkshire pudding, don't get held up in traffic, be there on time. Gerry, Garry Linsley (soulful alto sax) and co are the business! 

Not Now Charlie is/are of a generation. Jamie Toms' outfit is the beneficiary of the Northern Line scheme, although the band's gigs have been few and far between of late. Expect original material from Jamie (tenor sax) working alongside Pav Jedrzejewski (guitar), Liam Gaughan (bass guitar) and co. At five o'clock it's Mulligan Time!. Sue Ferris (see photo) blowing baritone sax is one of the great gig-going experiences. On this gig Sue will be tipping her hat to the great Gerry Mulligan. No two ways about it, Sue's quartet will blow up a storm! 

      

And to close three days of non-stop jazz, a musician who came to prominence as a member of Empirical, since when he's gone on to work with a who's who of the music business. Due on stage at 6:15, trumpeter Jay Phelps is the star name at Tyne Bank Brewery. The festival directors have secured the services of three A-listers to work with Phelps - Dean Stockdale, piano, Andy Champion, bass and drummer Dave McKeague. It promises to be some finale! Russell