A remarkable sextet, with musicians from the Netherlands, Germany and Canada, coming together to celebrate the 65th birthday of improvising viola player Ig Henneman.

Ig and her partner Ab Baars have long been leading members of the distinctive Dutch improv scene, and played a fondly remembered concert at the Star & Shadow around four years ago. For this sensational gig at the Old Town Hall they are joined by fellow Amsterdamer Wilbert de Joode (who was one of the stars of the 2008 'On the Outside' Festival) and German trumpeter Axel Dorner, making his first visit to Tyneside. Completing the line-up are Ig's long standing partners in the Dutch-Canadian trio Queen Mab, pianist Marilyn Lerner and clarinet specialist Lori Freedman.

These are all musicians with whom Ig has worked regularly over the years, but never before as a sextet. When thinking about the people she wanted to help her mark reaching retirement age ("A guaranteed income at last," she told us), she decided that she needed kindred spirits about her - and she couldn't have chosen better. These are musical friends coming together to have a party - and we're immensely privileged to be invited along.

This gig is presented by Jazz North East as part of it's 'On the Outside' programme, with financial assistance from Newcastle City Council and support in kind from Gateshead Council.