GIJF Day 2: Jens Thomas and Verneri Pohjola

(Review by Russell)
The Jazz Lounge came into its own during the late night sessions. A set of AC/DC tunes by jazz artists was going to be one of two things - a total flop or a triumph. German vocalist/pianist Jens Thomas worked with Finnish trumpeter Verneri Pohjola to interpret the back catalogue of the Antipodean hard rock megastars. Thomas cut a foppish figure plucked from Berlin cabaret. 

GIJF Day 2: Jazz from the North.

(Review by Russell).

The Jazz Lounge (aka Northern Rock Foundation Hall) sold out. This session has grown into a ‘must get’ ticket at the Sage Gateshead over the years. Four bands over four hours at a bargain price. 

GIJF Day 2. The Paul Edis Sextet: Concourse, Saturday April 6, 2013

Paul Edis (piano), Mick Shoulder (bass), Adam Sinclair (drums), Graeme Wilson (saxes), Graham Hardy (trumpet/flugelhorn), Alex Leathard (trombone).

(Review/photo by Jerry)

After initial reservations when its development was first announced, I have come to love the Sage. I feared it would be a “cathedral of music”: nothing more than an elite venue dedicated to devotees of classical music (a club from which I have voluntarily excluded myself for most of my life!). Structurally it is a cathedral, but there is nothing elitist or forbidding about it – rather it is a communal hub buzzing with life even on workaday days but all the more so when a major jazz festival is underway!

GIJF: Day 2: The Concourse. April 6.

(Review by Ann Alex)

You could actually have yourself a free festival by watching the concourse performances, and you’d get lots of variety, interest and good music.  On Saturday I heard:

The Grace Ellen Band

This singer is new to me and she did some of the songs which featured in her recent performance at one of the Jazz co-op gigs which take place at the Star pub in Newcastle on Wednesdays.  We heard versions of rock songs such as Sweet Dreams and New Day and standards such as Black Coffee, Fever and Georgia.  The instrumentalists are brimming with talent, I believe some of them are from one of the Sage’s music degrees, so I would have liked to hear more solos from them, to complement the singing.

GIJF Day 3: Saxophone Massive.

Andy Sheppard (sop/ten/conductor); Laura Reveley (alt); Keith Robinson (ten); Graeme Wilson (bar); Chris Sharkey (tutor/conductor).
(Review by Lance).

The threat initially was to have 200 saxophones but, mercifully, I think the total was about 50. In truth, this was one of the most amazing musical get togethers I have ever witnessed!

GIJF: Some Highlights A personal view from Ann Alex

First things first –food.  I like the new arrangements in the cafe, where you can order your meal, then sit down with a number till it comes.  I had Aracini – risotto in breadcrumbs – delicious.  Why not try the posset, a dessert from the new bar at the west door?  A delicious milk pudding with fruit compote which I believe they ate in Medieval times.  And the only time in the year that I get to eat caviare is with the nibbles provided at the press reception which opens the festival.  No, I haven’t become a food writer, so what about the music?

GIJF Day 3: Ruby Turner; The Brand New Heavies. April 7.

(Review by Lance).
(Dawn Joseph: Photo credit, Mark Savage.)

Tonight posed the question what is and what isn't jazz? Both sets had lots of soul and funk but as regards jazz content that is debatable. Paradoxically, this was, I would guess, one of, if not the, best attended concerts of the Festival. If this helps to subsidise the jazzier events then so be it.

GIJF Day 2: Jazz Record Requests

(Review by Russell).

A live edition of Jazz Record Requests! The welcoming yet authoritative voice of Alyn Shipton visits jazz homes tuned to BBC 3 every Saturday afternoon. Here at the Sage Shipton invited the audience to listen to requests, request a track of their own and hear    some jazz ‘live’ from the stage in Hall Two at the Sage. The programme will be broadcast this coming Saturday (13 April) on Radio 3, so you will have to listen to find out which tracks were chosen for broadcast!

GIJF Day 1: Zara McFarlane. April 5 Hall 2

Vocalist Zara McFarlane emerged from the Tomorrow’s Warriors’ hot house of the same generation as headliner Soweto Kinch. Her profile continues to rise and this Gateshead International Jazz Festival appearance will do her no harm whatsoever. Vocal improvisers are ten a penny - picking the best is a different matter and the Sage got it right on this occasion. The diminutive McFarlane, backed by a tight quartet - piano, bass and drums with a late-change saxophonist - sang with style. Commentary on contemporary matters of the day infused her lyrics (a Billie Holiday for the 21st Century) - Woman in the Olive Groves one such highlight, Blossom Tree another. McFarlane headlining on Tyneside will surely happen in the not to distant future.     

Russell.
(Editor's note. A couple of years back Zara had a very fine début album reviewed within these pages - Lance.)

GIJF Day 2: Workshop: An Introduction To Vocal Improvisation: At GOTH

Lindsay Hannon (tutor)

(Review by Ann Alex).

About 18 of us, mostly women, gathered at Gateshead Old Town Hall, to find out about exploring our voices in order to use them adventurously and hopefully musically.  We started with relaxation exercises and some rather raw sounds, and by the end of the session we’d produced 2 viable pieces of a capella music, working in 2 separate groups, so this was a very successful, well taught session.