GETTING FESTIVE!

A major development for Jazz North East over the past couple of years has been our increasing involvement with festivals. So, having programmed the Sunday concourse events at April’s Gateshead International Jazz Festival, we move on to present four astonishing bands at the Narc Festival Jazz Stage on 1st July.

Either side of that, though, we continue to present a hugely diverse, high quality series of one-off concerts, featuring top players from the local, national and international scenes. Some of the artists - like German saxophonist Peter Ehwald, American guitarist Joe Morris, and London-based pianist Rebecca Nash - are well established friends of Jazz North East, but we bring them back in new combinations that promise to throw fresh light on their artistry. Other musicians, like the young Leeds quintet Wandering Monster, come to us for their first ever gigs in the North East.

It’s called keeping it fresh, and we’re constantly on the look out for players bringing creative imagination to the ever evolving music that is jazz - we refuse to be tied down by the rigidity of genre . . . it’s quality in all its forms that we aim to present.

COMING SOON

30th May @ the Black Swan
Archipelago + Ripsaw Catfish CD launch for Tyneside’s most exciting trio, with support from gnarly experimental duo.

4th June @ The Bridge Hotel
Kepler Orbit + Henrik Jensen-Peter Ehwald Duo
Vibes player Martin Pyne leads a brilliantly innovative improv trio, in a double bill with a great collaboration between Danish bassist Jensen and German reedsman Ehwald.

11th June @ the Bridge Hotel
Joe Morris-Tony Bevan Duo + Wandering Monster
Boston-based Joe Morris, one of the jazz world’s most important guitarists, returns in a duo with sax titan Tony Bevan, plus support from bassist Sam Quintana’s young quintet.

13th June @ the Globe
Samuel Eagles Spirit Sextet
London saxophonist makes his third visit to the Globe, this time with a star-studded sextet touring to promote their debut CD ‘Ask, Seek, Knock’.

27th June @ the Jazz Café
Atlas
Pianist Rebecca Nash leads a stunning quartet, playing music that blends a vast range of influences into an utterly distinctive contemporary jazz approach.

1st July @ Cluny 2
Narc Jazz Stage
Four amazing and utterly different bands play the Jazz North East stage at this year’s Narc Magazine festival.

2nd July @ the Bridge Hotel
Bonga, Burt & Champion
First ever meeting for saxophonist Ntshuks Bonga, guitarist George Burt & bassist Andy Champion, three of the most brilliantly intuitive players on the UK improv scene.

For full details of each of these gigs, click on the band name.