A July preview

July is a busy old month, not least thanks to a huge number of events across County Durham. Yes, it's the return of the Durham Brass Festival! Many of the events (too many to mention) are on-the-street happenings, free admission. For details see: www.brassfestival.co.uk. Elsewhere there are several world class events to enjoy. 

On Tuesday 15th, Julian Lage turns up at the Exchange 1856 in  North Shields! The superstar American guitarist will be bringing with him bassist Jorge Roeder and drummer Joey Barron. Book at: www.theexchange1856.com. 

Three days later, fellow American Greg Abate arrives in the BSH heartland to play two gigs in a day. At lunchtime on Friday 18th the veteran hard bop alto saxophonist makes a long overdue return visit to Newcastle's Lit & Phil. The concert sold out months ago, however, to enquire about returns, call 0191 232 0192. In the evening, down at Opus 4 Jazz Club in Darlington, Abate teams up once again with Dean Stockdale, Andy Champion and Abbie Finn. £15.00. at the door, arrive at the Traveller's Rest in good time for an eight o'clock start.  

The Louis and Ella Music Show features Sarah Meek and Dave Cottle. At the beginning of the month, Meek and Cottle will be joined by the bass and drums pairing of Keith Peberdy and Abbie Finn, first on Thursday 3rd at the White Room, Stanley, and the following night at Saltburn Community Hall. On Saturday 5th, the New Century Syncopated Seven, featuring classic jazz era percussion specialist Nick Ward, can be heard at Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club (that's St Augustine's Parish Centre on Larchfield Street), 12:30pm, a tenner at the door.  

The Ian Bosworth Quintet's Sunday lunchtime residency (July 6) at Chapel, Whitehouse Street, Middlesbrough is finding its feet. It's a one o'clock start, free admission. If you're anywhere near, do show your support. The following weekend (Sat 12 & Sun 13) it's the annual Mouth of the Tyne Festival. The weather forecast is favourable, the jazz stage (adjacent to Tynemouth Priory) gets underway at noon on the Saturday and 11:00am on the Sunday.

Hot Club du Nord's annual Glasshouse (Gateshead) concert (Saturday 12) is selling well. Join Emma Fisk and the boys for an eight o'clock start. On Friday 18th, the Zoë Gilby Quartet is sure to attract a crowd at Sunderland Minster. It's a seven thirty start for this Old Black Cat Jazz Club concert - Magpies welcome!  

NONUNONU is a terrific trio from west of the Pennines. Featuring ace guitarist Tim  Williams, catch their set at Elder Beer on Chillingham Road, Newcastle on Thursday 17th. As the end nears for Prohibition Bar, there's one last opportunity to hear Merlin Roxby play some ragtime piano on Saturday 19th. Blyth's Yamaha Music School presents two Monday lunchtime jazz gigs this month. The first of them features David Gray's Flextet (Monday 7th) and a fortnight later (Monday 21st) it's the Gerry Richardson Quartet.

What are you doing on Wednesday 9th? There's only one place to be and that's Gateshead's Central Bar for the Hopper-Watson Quintet. As trumpeter Lara Hopper (pictured left) is soon to head off to Trinity Laban, London, this gig with tenor saxophonist Lewis Watson (pictured top left) should be considered as unmissable! Up at Queen's Hall in Hexham on Sunday 13th, trumpeter Ferg Kilsby has assembled an ace outfit to play an afternoon gig on Beaumont Street. Check out these guys...Luis Verde, Ben Lawrence, Andy Champion and John Hirst!   

And finally, it's time to go to the BBC Proms. At Sunderland's Fire Station on Thursday 24th you can hear not one, not two, not three, but four top talents...Soweto Kinch (!), Theo Croker (!) the Joe Webb Trio (!) and Rivkala (!). A busy month indeed. Russell