Preview: December - it's one big Xmas prezzie!

As the 'Big Day' approaches you could be forgiven for thinking the north east jazz scene will slow down. Not a bit of it, December is as busy as ever! Here's a selection...Tuesday (Dec. 2) brings James Birkett & Emma Fisk to the Great Hall, Sutherland Building, Northumbria University. It's a 1:15pm start and, at free admission, it's a bargain!  In the evening there's seasonal joy with the mega sized Down For the Count Swing Orchestra at Newcastlle Cathedral

Thursday (Dec. 4) is the day Prohibition Bar in Middlesbrough hits the jazz trail. Trumpeter Noel Dennis is the first of hopefully many top class jazz musicians to appear at the Albert Road venue. At the same time, North Shields' Exchange 1856 presents Organology. As line-ups go, you'd be hard pressed to come up with something to better this - Gilad Atzmon (alto sax), Ross Stanley (organ) and drummer Joel Barford! Book now at: www.theexchange1856.com.

On Saturday (Dec. 6) Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club once again welcomes Sarah Spencer's Transatlantic Band. Hugely popular last time round, it all points to another full house at St Augustine's Parish Centre. It's a half past twelve start, a tenner at the door. Saturday evening brings a rather poignant occasion. The Seahorse (Whitley Bay FC's club house) is hosting the first performance by the Kaberry Big Band. The band, formerly known as the Vermont Big Band, is named (renamed) in honour of its MD, the late Chris Kaberry. 

Wednesday (Dec. 10), make a pilgrimage to Pilgrim (that's the venue on Pilgrim Street, Newcastle, formerly Hoochie Coochie). Level 42's pianist Mike Lindup will be there with his jazz trio. Definitely worth a punt. Meanwhule, over at the Cluny down on the Ouseburn Delta, the exhuberant Bold Big Band will be unleashing their own brand of Ho! Ho! Ho!

Paul Edis returns once again with his all-star band, appearing at no fewer than four venues (five shows) over six days. A Jazzy Christmas is the real deal. A winning set list, superb arrangements, fabulous musicians, terrible jokes (!), Santa hats encouraged. Book to see Paul and co at one or more of these venues: St Cuthbert's Centre, Crook (Dec. 12), Glasshouse, Gateshead (Dec. 13, two performances), Queen's Hall, Hexham (Dec. 16) and the Fire Station, Sunderland (Dec. 17).   

And if you're looking for a big band bash, look no further than the o2 Academy (formerly Newcastle City Hall). On Sunday (Dec. 21) Michael Lamb's Strictly Smokin' Big Band will be on stage for one of the year's unmissable gigs. Alice Grace (pictured) will be there, of course she will. And, by way of a bonus, Alice will be joined by fellow vocalist, Matt Ford! And there's more...Bradley Creswick (one time leader of the Northern Sinfonia) will be in the thick of the strings and, last but by no means least, the man who has been burning the arranger's midnight oil, Stuart McLean. Tickets have been selling like hot cakes. To buy your tickets - that's 'tickets' plural, think Christmas present(s) - visit: www.academymusicgroup.com/o2cityhallnewcastle. 

Keep an eye on BSH's day-to-day listings - there's so much happening. Russell