After an absence of two years and more the Darlington Jazz Festival is Back in the Swing this weekend. It's a leaner event than in the past, however, there is no compromise on quality. Beginning on Friday evening (April 29) in the Dolphin Centre's Central Hall, the mighty Durham Alumni Big Band will be Back in the Swing of things, sharing the evening with the Durham Music Service Big Band.
The Alumni will be playing some of the charts which were to be played a couple of years ago to commemorate VE Day 75 only for the pandemic to intervene. It's only now that the likes of A Foggy Day in London Town, A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square and Flying Home will, at last, be performed alongside numbers from the pads of Gordon Goodwin, Buddy Rich and Steve Waterman. The evening gets under way at 7:15pm (doors 6:45), £10 at the door or book in advance by calling the Dolphin Centre on 01325 388406.
Saturday lunchtime (April 30, International Jazz Day!) at Number One Bar is unmissable! Returning as he does every year to his home town, trumpeter Matt Roberts will be playing the music of Miles Davis. Roberts will be focusing on the Prestige years (mid to late fifties) and the great quintet: John Coltrane, Red Garland, Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones. Cuts from Cookin', Relaxin', Steamin' and Workin' will be played by Roberts' all-star band featuring Jim Corry (tenor sax); Martin Longhawn (piano); Myra Brownbridge (double bass) and Sam Gardner (drums). And expect to hear something from Kind of Blue and Milestones. The one musician in Roberts' band which most people will be unfamiliar is Myra Brownbridge. Ms Brownbridge, a recent Trinity Laban graduate, is in the process of building an impressive cv - gigs at Ronnie's and the 606, working with Tony Kofi, Nikki Iles, Norma Winstone and others. If you're in Matt Roberts' band, you can play!
To kick off the Saturday session at no.1 Skinnergate, Calvert and the Old Fools will be playing an opening set from noon. What's more, it's free admission all afternoon. Donations are encouraged, so, you know what to do...dig deep! Darlington Jazz Festival is Back in the Swing! Russell
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