The queue forms on the right girls...

The Naturist Foundation Jazz and Real Ale Festival announce the full line-up for their Jazz and Real Ale Festival which takes place from the 27th to the 30th June 2013. The event is the only four day outdoor jazz festival in the UK. Jerry Turner, Music Director of the Festival said “I am very pleased with the programme for this year which features some jazz greats as well as emerging talent. The Thursday evening features young musicians who are establishing a name for themselves such as Yazz Ahmed, Kieren Stickle McLeod and Jack Davies. The rest of the festival includes musicians such as Peter King the greatest alto player in the UK, Frank Griffith and Jean Toussaint from the USA, Vasilis Xenopoulos from Greece, Digby Fairweather, Julian Marc Stringle, Ben Cummings, Byron Wallen, the MJQ Celebration with Karen Sharp, and the solo piano of Keith Nichols over Sunday lunch. A New Orleans style umbrella parade through the grounds is

followed by Harry Strutters Jive and Swing for a fun filled Saturday afternoon.”

Tommy Emmanuel & Martin Taylor @ The Sage - Take 2.

(Review by Ron Ainsborough)

The definition of 'jazz or not jazz', discussion raises it head once again after going to this concert, but as many a person has said before me 'there are only two kinds of music, good or bad!' Well this concert was 'good music' without a doubt.

The concert featured Tommy Emmanuel and Martin Taylor playing solo and as a duo for two sets about an hour each, playing to a near sell out audience at The Sage.

I have seen and heard Martin Taylor before so I already knew he is a world class acoustic guitar musician, but with just being made aware recently of Tommy Emmanuel and never ever having heard him play live (I did check him out on YouTube though!) , we awaited to see him with great anticipation.

Tommy Emmanuel & Martin Taylor @ The Sage. March 8, 2013

(Review by Russell).

The Sage’s principal concert hall (Hall One) seats 1700 patrons. The appearance of guitarists Tommy Emmanuel and Martin Taylor ensured that a good number of those seats were occupied – no mean feat in these straightened times on a cold winter’s night (spring has most definitely not yet sprung). Aussie Emmanuel has toured the world tirelessly for many years, so too Scotland’s Taylor, earning the right to perform at such a prestigious venue as the Sage Gateshead.

Gabriele Mit Drei with Gordon Phillips: City Library, Newcastle March 8 International Women’s Day

Gabriele Heller (vocals, kazoo); Paul Beck (keyboard); Steve Glendinning (guitar);

Dave Parker (double bass); Gordon Phillips (poetry).

(Review by Ann Alex.)

This was a fine contribution to International Women’s Day from a talented poet, and Gabi and the band, who reached the high standard that we’ve come to expect from this outfit.  And it was free, with tea or coffee and biscuits as well!

Paul Edis Trio @ The Lit and Phil

Paul Edis (piano), Mick Shoulder (double bass) & Adam Sinclair (drums) 

(Review by Russell)

The second in the series of monthly lunchtime gigs at the Lit and Phil attracted a standing room only audience. The north east’s premier piano jazz trio presented a programme of nine jazz standards composed by four of the stellar names in the history of the music.

Djangologie @ Ashington Jazz Club. March 6, 2013.

Emma Fisk (vln); James Birkett, Giles Strong (gtr); Mick Shoulder (bs).

(Review by Peter S.)

Our members gathered at the Elephant for the third visit of Djangologie knowing we were going to experience an excellent evening of superb Django music presented by this group of talented musicians. What more can be said of these very popular and outstanding exponents of gypsy jazz style that has not already been written into Bebop Spoken Here  on many other reviews  in the North East and beyond? 

CD Review: Aquarium - Places.

Sam Leak (pno); James Allsopp (ten/bs.clt);  Calum Gourley (bs); Joshua Blackmore (dms).

(Review by Russell)

Pianist Sam Leak presents eight compositions on Places the new release from Aquarium on  Jellymould  Jazz. A quartet variously comprising graduates of the Royal Academy of Music and multi-award winning musicians on the UK scene,  Leak has clearly written for the musicians on this recording.

Reeds virtuoso James Allsopp is afforded generous solo space on tenor saxophone and the occasional bass clarinet excursion (hearing Allsopp in concert on the latter instrument was a truly memorable experience). Tenor and piano flow effortlessly on the title track, in contrast to the coiled intensity of the post-Coltrane Milan on which Allsopp’s measured phrasing is challenged by Leak’s dark chord progressions.

Name these musicians.

The death yesterday of Kenny Ball prompted Colin - our man in Hong Kong - to send this photo of a very young Kenny Ball. The "CG" initials on the shirts suggest the band is Charlie Galbraith's but who, asks Colin are the others?

Colin also sent this clip of Kenny Ball playing at Ned's back in 1977.

Lance.

Safe Sextet @ Hoochie Coochie. March 7.

Don Forbes (tpt); Paul Gowland (alt); John Rowland (ten); Pete Gilligan (pno); Paul Grainger (bs); Jeff Armstrong (dms).
(Review by Lance)

The Safe Sextet - once part of the Friday night furniture at the Jazz Café were fortunately overlooked by the Miller removal men on Wednesday so they will not be up for auction at the Sale Rooms.

This is a shame as, after tonight's performance, the bidding would be intense!

Yorkshire Heritage Coast Jazz festival

Join the Vieux Carré Jazzmen on a day trip to the Yorkshire Heritage Coast Jazz Festival in the beautiful North Yorkshire fishing village of Staithes on Saturday 25 May. 

Our coach will depart Whitley Bay Town Centre (opp. The Victoria) at 10.00am and pick up at The Corner House, Heaton, at 10.20am. 

Arrive Staithes Village Hall around midday (food and bar available). 

You can choose to take a stroll around the village, call in for a tipple at the Cod and Lobster public house and sample their excellent fish ‘n’ chips. Owner of the nearby Captain Cook Inn, Neil Readman, informs me that on the day there'll be 15 cask ales available along with hot food and sandwiches.

The Vieux Carré Jazzmen take to the stage at 12.30pm to perform 2 x 60 minute sets of stomping, traditional New Orleans jazz. 

Depart Staithes around 3.30pm 

Arrive Corner House 5.00pm  

Whitley Bay town centre 5.30pm 

Cost including coach travel and admission to the Village Hall: £20 

Call me on: 0191 252 9429 or 07710 528413 or 'e' me. 

Limited places so book NOW. 

Brian Bennett.