All of our concerts are 14+ with under 18's accompanied by an adult but please do contact the venue for full details regarding younger ages and for any further queries regarding accessibility. Click here to see the upcoming events.
JOHN POPE QUINTET
Sunday 7th July
(Doors 7.30pm / Music Starts 8.00pm)
The Bridge Hotel - Newcastle
£8 / £6 Concessions
JOHN POPE QUINTET
John Pope (Bass) / Jamie Stockbridge (Alto Sax) / Faye MacCalman (Tenor Sax / Clarinet) / Graham Hardy (Trumpet) / Johnny Hunter (Drums)
Hard-working North East bass player John Pope has played with artists across the spectrum of modern music, from folk songsters to free improv legends to genuine pop stars. But jazz is his creative home turf. Leading a band of all-star Northern musicians, John’s music draws on the history of 60s avant-jazz and hard-bop, but with a modern sensibility grounded in the adventurous sounds of today’s European jazz scene. A mix of original tunes and carefully-curated cover material, played with hard-swinging ferocity and playful openness, referencing everybody from Ornette Coleman to Tom Waits, Mingus to the Pixies. The John Pope Quintet kicks up a joyful racket full of rewards for the adventurous listener.
“Irresistable joie de vivre” - Jazzwise
ZOE RAHMAN and LAURA MACDONALD
Tuesday 16th July - Masala Festival
(Doors 8.00pm / Music Starts 8.30pm)
The Lit and Phil - Newcastle
£12 / £10 Concessions
This concert is presented by Jazz North East in association with GemArts Masala Festival
ZOE RAHMAN and LAURA MACDONALD
Zoe Rahman (Piano) / Laura MacDonald (Saxophone)
For her last couple of concerts for Jazz North East pianist Zoe Rahman has given solo performances, holding the audience spellbound on both occasions.
But now, as our contribution to GemArts’ exciting Masala Festival, she returns in the company of Scottish saxophonist Laura Macdonald, a pairing that first came together at the 2015 Glasgow Jazz Festival, where it was widely acclaimed as one of the highlights. This piano & reeds format is one with which Zoe is very familiar - over the past few years she has toured in a duo with Courtney Pine - but the collaboration with Laura allows her to explore a different repertoire, largely built around standards although including original compositions from both partners.
It’s also a chance for the Tyneside audience to reacquaint themselves with the great playing of Laura, who studied at America’s prestigious Berklee School of Music, became the first ever winner of the Scottish Young Jazz Musician of the Year award, and went on to an extended stint as lead alto player with the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra. She too is no stranger to the duo setting, having released an album of duets with New York pianist David Berkman.
That album was enthusiastically reviewed as “Wonderful stuff . . . to be listened to and savoured time and time again, as each hearing reveals new delights” - We haven’t the slightest doubt that this teaming with Zoe Rahman will prove just as wonderful.
Marie Curie Fundraiser - A Concert for Margaret Barnes
Saturday 20th July
Afternoon 1:30pm (doors 1:00pm) / Evening 6:00pm (doors 5:45pm)
The Literary and Philosophical Society - Newcastle
£10 Afternoon or Evening Session Ticket / £12 Full Day Ticket
Marie Curie Fundraiser - A Concert for Margaret Barnes
Saturday 20th July
The Literary and Philosophical Society - Newcastle
£10 Afternoon or Evening Session Ticket / £12 Full Day Ticket
Afternoon Session
Doors: 1.00pm
1.30pm: Debra Milne and Steve Glendinning
2.20pm: Paul Edis with Graham Hardy
3.25pm: Hand To Mouth
4.15pm: Thomas Dixon Band
Evening Session
Doors: 5.45pm
6.00pm: Paul Taylor + The Long Lonesome Go
7.05pm: Bradley Johnston Trio trio with Roly Veitch
8.10pm: Duo FCT
9.00pm: Zoe Gilby Quartet
The jazz scene on Tyneside can surely have had no more committed a supporter than Margaret Barnes.
It’s usually the case with jazz promoters that one individual appears as the public face, but in reality it’s the work of a team that keeps the show on the road - and there can hardly have been a greater team player than Margaret. The jazz community - musicians, fans and organisers alike - owe her a massive debt of gratitude, and this concert, raising funds for her chosen charity, is our way of saying “Thank You Margaret”.
For well over 40 years she served on the Board of Jazz North East, providing continuity through countless changes in membership, and ever ready with her measured thoughts on the organisation’s concert programme. Like any enthusiast Margaret had her own favourite musicians and styles - big bands were perhaps her first love - but she always recognised that jazz has a glorious diversity, and gave unstinting support to gigs right across the spectrum from Hot Club swing to uncompromising free jazz. Generally sat at the ticket desk, hers was the welcoming smile that immediately assured musicians and audiences they were in for a good night.
But it wasn’t just with Jazz North East that Margaret’s love of jazz expressed itself. She was a great supporter of local players, always ready with words of encouragement, and a frequent audience member at gigs ranging from low key trad residencies through to high profile festival sessions. The eagerness with which musicians have signed up to take part in today’s tribute is a mark of the high esteem in which Margaret was held by everybody who met her and warmed to her boundless enthusiasm.
Francis Tulip with Xhosa Cole
Sunday 25th August
(Doors 7.30pm / Music Starts 8.00pm)
The Bridge Hotel - Newcastle
£8 / £6 Concessions
FRANCIS TULIP QUINTET
Xhosa Cole (Tenor Sax) / Francis Tulip (Guitar) / Ben Lawrence (Keyboards) / Shivraj Singh (Bass) / Matt Mackellar (Drums)
Guitarist Francis Tulip is one of a new young generation of North East jazz musicians who have been making a major impression both for their technical fluency and - more importantly - for the levels of creativity to which they are putting their ability.
Currently studying at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire , he comes to the Bridge with a quintet that includes two of the second city's key players in bassist Shivraj Singh and saxophonist Xhosa Cole - who won the 2018 BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year award with what Iain Bellamy described as his “heartfelt, sincere and communicative” performances.
Delivering a mix of tunes from such iconic artists as John Coltrane and Wayne Shorter, this is a quintet that demonstrates a profound respect for the jazz tradition while being willing to give it their own contemporary spin.
Sunday 1st September
(Doors 7.30pm / Music Starts 8.00pm)
SLOTH RACKET
The Bridge Hotel - Newcastle
£8 / £6 Concessions
SLOTH RACKET
Cath Roberts (Baritone Saxophone) Sam Andreae (Alto Saxophone) / Anton Hunter (Guitar) / Seth Bennett (Bass) / Johnny Hunter (Drums)
Sloth Racket is a band of UK improvisers led by baritone saxophonist Cath Roberts, with Sam Andreae on alto saxophone, Anton Hunter on guitar, Seth Bennett on bass and Johnny Hunter on drums. They play Cath’s compositions, combining written fragments with graphic notation to explore the balance between freedom and structure. The results are always different, and so far have ranged across musical territories taking in fiery free jazz, minimal improv textures and heavy riffs.
The band formed in 2015 when Jazz North East invited Cath to present a new project at Gateshead International Jazz Festival. Everyone agreed this had to be more than just a one-off, and they went on to appear at London Jazz Festival, Brighton Alternative Jazz Festival and LUME Festival, as well as touring every year. Sloth Racket have released three studio albums on the Luminous Label and one live album on Tombed Visions.
Sloth Racket return to Newcastle in tour support of their new album 'Dismantle Yourself' due out on Luminous on 2nd September 2019.
‘Lurching between riff and abstraction…maintains an elegant balance between emergent melody and the wilder activity at its fringes’ – The Wire
‘Startling moments of altered perspective’ – Bandcamp Daily
‘Consider this an important contribution to the debate about spontaneity versus form.’ – Jazzwise
‘An agreeably spicy goulash of free improvisation, grumpy riffs and bluesy themes.’ – The Quietus
‘Nobody in their right mind is going to call this row slothful.’ – Record Collector
ARTEPHIS
Saturday 7th September
(Doors 7.30pm / Music Starts 8.00pm)
The Globe - Newcastle
£10 / £8 Concessions
This concert is presented by Jazz North East in association with Jazz Coop at The Globe and Jazz North 'Northern Line'.
ARTEPHIS
Aaron Wood (Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Electronics) / James Girling (Guitar) / Ali Roocroft (Piano, Keyboards) / Alasdair Simpson (Bass Guitar) / Matt Brown (Drums)
Contemporary jazz-rock quintet based in Manchester, UK, Artephis comprises some of the North's most creatively diverse young musicians, who met at the Royal Northern College of Music. Their debut album, ALL CHANGE NO CHANGE, was released in June 2017 with an accompanying UK tour and aired on Radio 2 by Jamie Cullum, who chose ‘Feroz’ as his BBC Introducing highlight of the year.
Since forming in 2014, Artephis have been committed to realizing outward-looking 'stretch music' that directs the progressive energy of late-‘60s/early-‘70s Miles Davis’ On The Corner / Big Fun / Jack Johnson era onto the contemporary plane of Christian Scott, Butcher Brown and Brian Blade & The Fellowship, distilling an eclectic sound of their own with an increasingly electronic element. Informed diversely by the musicians’ backgrounds and specialisms including Afrobeat, contemporary classical, funk and hip-hop settings, Artephis compose with a feel for the programmatic, immersing the listener in a familiar, while challenging, sound-space of imaginative textures, explosive and sensitive grooves, and spirited melodies.
STRICTLY SMOKIN' SESSIONS
Tuesday 17th September
(Doors 7.30pm / Music Starts 8.00pm)
The Black Swan at Newcastle Arts Centre
£8 / £6 Concessions
STRICTLY SMOKIN' SESSIONS
Alice Grace (Voice) / Steve Summers (Saxophones / Reeds) / Graham Don (Piano) / Michael Whent (Bass) / Michael Lamb (Trumpet) / Jamie Toms (Saxophone) / Pete Tanton (Trumpet) / Kieran Parnaby (Trombone) / Pawel Jedrzejewski (Guitar) / Guy Swinton (Drums)… and more SSBB!
Strictly Smoking return for a second year under commission from Jazz North East to create new music using composed and performed by members of the Strictly Smoking’ Big Band. This year sees Alice Grace (Voice), Steve Summers (Saxophones / Reeds), Graham Don (Piano), Michael Whent (Bass) creating compositions performed by the composers themselves and other members of the big band, including Michael Lamb, Jamie Toms, Pete Tanton, Kieran Parnaby, Pawel Jedrzejewski and Guy Swinton.
FABLED
Sunday 22nd September
(Doors 7.30pm / Music Starts 8.00pm)
The Bridge Hotel - Newcastle
£8 / £6 Concessions
FABLED
Sam Rapley (Saxophone / Clarinet / Compositions) / Alex Munk (Guitar) / Matt Robinson (Piano) / Conor Chaplin (Double Bass) / Will Glaser (Drums)
Drawing inspiration from Debussy, Tom Jobim, Tigran Hamasyan and Bon Iver, the music of Fabled explores the wealth of textures, harmonies and grooves available in the traditional jazz quintet setting. Heavily influenced by music for film, and the relationship between music and storytelling, they are always searching for their own new ways to tell the classic, age-old stories.
Fabled formed in 2014 when saxophonist / clarinetist, Sam Rapley, brought together a select handful of Britain’s most exciting young musicians to play his original music. This close-knit group of friends have since found a unified and unique way of interacting with each other, born through years of collaborative music making.
Following the success of their debut EP, released in 2015, over the past 2 years, Fabled have been performing across the UK and developing new music which has come together to form their first full length album, Short Stories, due for release September 2018.
Fabled perform at the Bridge Hotel as part of a 15 date UK tour in support of their debut album.
"Rapley is a deeply sentimental architect, who throws everything at this record – watercolours, fireworks, mist and storm. His playing has a unique character to it – a very sweet tone, that can, as the most human of characters so often do, turn and turn again until it has suddenly become the gut wrenching obsession you always feared" - Cellars and Lofts
SOMERSAULTS + LIBER MUSIKA
Thursday 3rd October
Doors 7.30pm (8.00pm: Liber Musika / 9.00pm: Somersaults)
The Black Swan Bar and Venue
£8 / £6 Concessions*
Tickets available online from Seetickets, Reflex in Newcastle and On The Door subject to capacity
This concert is presented by Jazz North East in association with DJazz, Newcastle Arts Centre and Newcastle Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music
Somersaults: Tobias Delius (Saxophone and Clarinet) / Olie Brice (Double Bass) / Mark Sanders (Drums)
John Pope presents 'Liber Musika': John Garner (Violin and Viola) / Faye MacCalman (Clarinet) / John Pope (Double Bass) / Will Hammond (Vibraphone and Percussion)
SOMERSAULTS
Somersaults is the improvising Trio of Olie Brice (Double Bass), Tobias Delius (Tenor & Clarinet) and Mark Sanders (Drums). They play exciting, playful free jazz ranging from driving loose swing and tumbling polyphony to abstract noise and textural exploration. Between them they have played with a who’s who of free improv and creative jazz. Tobias is a member of legendary Dutch big band the ICP, and Mark and Olie have been heard together with musicians including Paul Dunmall, Evan Parker, Ken Vandermark, Mikolaj Trzaska, Rachel Musson, Steve Swell & Ingrid Laubrock. The first Somersaults album was released in 2015 on the Two Rivers label, and the 2nd will be following in September 2019 on West Hill Records. The bands appearance at 'Newcastle Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music' forms part of their nine date UK album tour.
"This is European free improv at its best“ - The Free Jazz Blog
"A unique and rewarding listen" - Clifford Allen (New York City Jazz Record)
“They still maintain their jazz roots in terms of language and roles, but stretch them as far as possible without breaking the mould" - All About Jazz
LIBER MUSIKA
Bassist and composer John Pope debuts a newly devised series of pieces, touching on free improvisation, chamber music, minimalism and jazz. Inspired by the work of AACM radicals like Anthony Braxton, Roscoe Mitchell and Wadada Leo Smith, performed by a new drummerless quartet of agile and adventurous musicians, LIBER MUSIKA is an exercise in space and form, rhythm and melody, texture and abstraction. With the musicians given authority to navigate the pieces as they wish, John's compositions set a lyrical tone to be inhabited and deconstructed in performance, with a full commitment to the spontaneous potential of the moment. A bracing experiment in sound poetry from one of the North East's most curious musical creatives.
YAZZ AHMED'S 'ELECTRIC DREAMS'
Friday 4th October
Doors 7.30pm (Music Starts 8.00pm)
Gosforth Civic Theatre
£12 / £10 Concessions*
Tickets available online from Seetickets, Reflex in Newcastle and On The Door subject to capacity
This concert is presented by Jazz North East in association with Gosforth Civic Theatre Jazz Club and Newcastle Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music
'The high priestess of psychedelic Arabic jazz’
Yazz Ahmed (Trumpet and Flugelhorn) / Jason Singh (Voice with Electronics and Live Sampling) / Samuel Hällkvist (Electric Guitar) / Rod Youngs (Drums)
YAZZ AHMED'S 'ELECTRIC DREAMS'
Yazz Ahmed’s Electric Dreams quartet, featuring vocal sculptor, Jason Singh, drummer, Rod Youngs, and guitarist, Samuel Hällkvist, is the latest incarnation of an on-going series of live performances and recording sessions in which she collaborates with her favourite musicians to create unique and spontaneous compositions.
These free flowing and conversational improvisations make use of electronic effects, sound design, live looping and sampling, in an exploration of contemporary jazz from a different angle.
DEEP READING
Yazz Ahmed is a British Bahraini trumpet and flugelhorn player.
Her music, through which she seeks to blur the lines between jazz, electronic sound design and the music of her mixed heritage, has been described as ‘psychedelic Arabic jazz, intoxicating and compelling’.
In recent years she has lead her various ensembles in concerts around the UK and abroad, including in New York, Kuwait, Algiers, Berlin, Paris, Istanbul, Tunis and Amsterdam, and at major festivals such as WOMAD, Molde Jazz, Pori Jazz and Love Supreme.
Yazz has also recorded and performed with Radiohead, Lee Scratch Perry, Joan as Police Woman, Tarek Yamani, Amel Zen, singer songwriter Jack Peñate, and has toured the world with art-rock band, These New Puritans.
In 2012, Yazz represented Bahrain in London’s Cultural Olympiad, joining renowned musicians from the Arabian Gulf in collaboration with Transglobal Underground. This project, In Transit, was supported by the British Council and was performed in Dubai and London.
Yazz was awarded a jazz fellowship from Birmingham Jazzlines in 2014, who supported her during the course of a year in writing a major new suite, Alhaan al Siduri, premiered in October 2015 at the CBSO Centre, Birmingham. One year later the second performance marked Yazz’s debut in her paternal homeland at the Bahrain International Music Festival.
In 2015, Yazz was commissioned by the Tomorrow’s Warriors, with support from PRS Women Make Music, to write a suite inspired by courageous and influential women. Polyhymnia was premiered at the Purcell Room by a special all female ensemble at the WOW! Festival in March 2015.
During her year as an LSO Soundhub composer in 2016, Yazz explored writing music for her newly developed quarter-tone flugelhorn, which enables her to get closer to the spiritual nature of the ‘blue notes’ in Arabic music.
2017 saw the release of her second album, La Saboteuse, on Naim Records. The album caused quite a stir, gaining multiple rave reviews and making many ‘best of 2017’ lists around the world, including Jazz Album of the Year in The Wire magazine and achieving the number 18 spot in Bandcamp’s top 100 albums (all genres).
In August 2018 Yazz released an EP of remixes from La Saboteuse, featuring collaborations with Hector Plimmer, DJ Khalab and Blacksea Não Maya which has brought her music to a new audience.
Also in 2018, Yazz was commissioned, by the Ligeti Quartet, alongside seven other composers, to write music inspired by modern astronomy, each focusing on a different planet in the solar system. The Planets 2018, created especially for planetariums, features Yazz’s composition Saturn and was performed around the UK during October 2018.
Yazz is currently working on completing the recording of her third album, Polyhymnia due for release in 2019.
Yazz Ahmed - 'La Saboteuse'
‘Jazz Album of the year’ - The Wire
'The Best Albums of 2017 (All Genres - #18)' - Bandcamp
‘Top 50 albums of 2017 (all genres) #15 ’ - The Vinyl Factory
‘The Best Jazz Albums of 2017’ (#2) - Stereogum
‘Album Of The Year’ - The Bird Is The Worm
"Incredible new music from Yazz Ahmed" - Gilles Peterson
“Haunting and elegant …” - The Guardian 4*
“Yazz Ahmed…A Languorous Cinematic Drift" - MOJO
"Echoes something of siesta-era Milles" - Jazzwise 4*
“…let Ahmed take you on a beautiful journey of forward-thinking jazz compositions” - Twistedsoul
“...its potent mix of post-bop lyricism and modern fusion soundscaping makes connections with both head and heart” - Dave Sumner (Bandcamp)
“Even if you’re not familiar or terribly interested in jazz, Ahmed’s music deserves your attention, and she’ll most likely make you second guess your thoughts on jazz” - Headphone Nation
WAYS featuring ACHIM KAUFFMAN + MASSIMO PUPILLO and TONY BUCK + RAYMOND MACDONALD and JER REID
Saturday 5th October
Doors 6.30pm (7.00pm: Raymond MacDonald and Jer Reid / 8.00pm: Massimo Pupillo and Tony Buck / 9.00pm: Ways)
The Literary and Philosophical Society
£12 / £10 Concessions*
Tickets available online from Seetickets, The Lit and Phil, Reflex in Newcastle and On The Door subject to capacity
This concert is presented by Jazz North East and The Literary and Philosophical Society in association with Newcastle Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music
Ways: Brodie West (Saxophone) / Achim Kauffman (Piano) / Evan Cartwright (Drums)
Massimo Pupillo (Bass and Electronics) / Tony Buck (Percussion and Electronics)
Raymond MacDonald (Saxophones) / Jer Reid (Guitar)
WAYS featuring ACHIM KAUFFMAN
Ways is the Toronto-based duo of acclaimed Saxophonist / Composer Brodie West and Evan Cartwright, a versatile yet distinctive voice behind the Drum Kit. They initially formed in 2013 as what they collectively describe as a "laboratory project" to hatch various compositional experiments. By 2015, Ways had moved out of the lab scenario to present their work publicly in idiosyncratic gradually unfolding performances. Recently they collaborated with Danish pianist Simon Toldam, and the fruits of this partnership are due for release as their debut recording Fortunes. For the present occasion, Ways will be joined by Berlin-based pianist Achim Kaufmann.
MASSIMO PUPILLO and TONY BUCK
Tony Buck is regarded as one of Australia's most creative and adventurous exports, with vast experience across the globe. He has been involved in a highly diverse array of projects but is probably best known around the world as a member of the trio The Necks. Following studies and early experience in Australia he spent two years in Japan, where he formed PERIL with Otomo Yoshihide and Kato Hideki before relocating to Europe in the mid-nineties. Some of the more high profile projects he has been involved with, aside from The Necks, include the band Kletka Red as well as touring and recording with, among others, The EX, The Exiles, and Corchestra, and involvement with most of the international improvisation and new music community including performances at many major festivals and venues.
Tony has been involved in collaborations with artists such as Brian Eno, Karl Hyde (Underworld), David Sylvian, Swans, Ned Rothenberg, Lee Renaldo, John Surman, John Zorn and Barre Phillips and The Ex. He also creates video works for use with live music performance and has had pieces shown in Tokyo, Belfast, Berlin, New York and Sydney.
Massimo Pupillo is a Bass player, Composer and Improviser, originally from Rome Italy. As in 2018 he has released 72 albums, around 20 of which only with his longterm main band, Zu. His releases have come through labels such as Ipecac Recordings House Of Mythology, and Deutsche Grammophon. Massimo has probably played around 3000 shows all over the world including Europe, Russia, Japan, South Korea, USA, Mexico, Chile, Canada, Mali, Algeria etc etc etc
He has kept a very open attitude leading him to collaborate with other musicians and artists coming from many different avenues: Katia e Marielle Labeque, Barbara Hannigan, Alvin Curran, Mike Patton, David Tibet, Stephen O'Malley , Oren Ambarchi, Nobukazu Takemura, Thighpaulsandra, Damo Suzuki, F.M. Einheit, Peter Brötzmann, Toshinori Kondo, Mats Gustafsson, Ken Vandermark.
He has written and played live for Romeo Castellucci and Chiara Guidi of Societas Raffaello Sanzio, and for the contemporary dance company Dewey Dell.
Living. Now. Here.
Zu / "Zu93" with David Tibet / Zu presents Terminalia Amazonica / URUK with ThighPaulSandra / BECOMING ///ANIMAL with Gordon Sharp/Cindytalk / Laniakea with Daniel O’Sullivan / "Moondog" with Katia Labeque / David Chalmin / Raphael Seguine / Duo with Stefano Pilia / Duo with Tony Buck / Mats Gustafsson Nu Ensemble “Heal"
Previously Massimo has worked with...
Mike Patton / Buzz Osborne (on Carboniferous) / Thurston Moore / Jim O’Rourke / Mats Gustaffson / Terrie Ex / Paal Nilssen Love / Guy Picciotto / Joe Lally (Fugazi) / Gabe Serbian (The Locust ) / The Ex / Getatchew Mekuria / Peter Brotzmann / Toshinori Kondo / Paal Nilssen Love / Chris Corsano / Brian Chippendale (Lightning Bolt) / FM Einheit / Nobukazu Takemura / Damo Suzuki / Dalek / Ken Vandermark / Lasse Marhaug / Mick Harris ( Scorn) etc etc etc
RAYMOND MACDONALD and JER REID
As two members of Glasgow Improvisers' Orchestra the sub group of Raymond MacDonald and Jer Reid is a thrilling and charismatic Guitar and Saxophone Duo that scales ectastic heights of celebratary and joie de vivre free improvisation. Including delicate fragile soundworlds that morph into blistering melodic skrong where the boundaries between Saxophone and Guitar are blurred and their sounds merge to draw audiences into intimate everchanging textures.
EVAN PARKER / ALEXANDER HAWKINS / JOHN POPE / PAUL HESSION
Sunday 6th October
Doors 7.00pm (music starts 7.30pm)
£12 / £10 Concessions*
Tickets available online from Seetickets, The Lit and Phil, Reflex in Newcastle and On The Door subject to capacity
This concert is presented by Jazz North East and The Literary and Philosophical Society in association with Newcastle Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music
ALEXANDER HAWKINS
(Solo Piano)
Alexander Hawkins is widely recognised as one of the UK’s most innovative and imaginative pianists and composers. Alexander is self-taught with a great love and deep knowledge of the jazz tradition which he brings, along with classical references, to his compositions and improvisations.
In February 2019 he released his second solo album, 'Iron into Wind', on the prestigious Intakt label.
Along with his solo performances, he works in a vast array of creative contexts including leading and composing for his Quartet and Ensemble; in duo with South African Drum legend Louis Moholo-Moholo and in Moholo’s Blokes; along with his duos with Evan Parker, John Surman, and Sofia Jernberg, and in projects with contemporary leaders - Joe McPhee, Anthony Braxton, Marshall Allen and Ethio-jazz pioneer Mulatu Astatke.
"… the ten most fantastic fingers of today's English jazz, those of pianist Alexander Hawkins” - Giornale Della Musica
"Oxford, UK native Alexander Hawkins continues to chart a course that will inevitably place him in the creative category of pianist / composers of the caliber of Cecil Taylor and Andrew Hill" - All About Jazz
"…Hawkins is a really vital link in a long historical chain, and his ability to sculpt his own language from a deeply rooted creative bedrock is compelling" - Jazzwise
www.alexanderhawkinsmusic.com
EVAN PARKER / ALEXANDER HAWKINS / JOHN POPE / PAUL HESSION
Evan Parker (Saxes) / Alexander Hawkins (Piano) / John Pope (Bass) / Paul Hession (Percussion)
What an absolutely brilliant Quartet conceived especially for this years festival and another world premier. It's a great pleasure to welcome Evan Parker for a second performance at this years festival, and whilst he has an established Duo with Pianist Alexander Hawkins this is a fascinating opportunity to see them hook up with renowned Percussionist Paul Hession and Tyne and Wear's John Pope on Bass who is increasingly making a name for himself on the international scene. Paul and John played a blinding pure free jazz set alongside Joe McPhee at the 2018 edition of NFOJAIM so it's a delight to welcome them back in support of the legendary godfather of British free jazz Evan Parker.
THE MARK WILLIAMS TRIO + JEFF HERR CORPORATION
Tyneside Irish Festival
Sunday 20th October
(Doors 7.00pm / Music Starts 7.30pm)
The Bridge Hotel - Newcastle
£10 / £8 Concessions
This concert is presented by Jazz North East in association with Tyneside Irish Festival and supported by Jazz North 'Northern Line' and Music: LX
THE MARK WILLIAMS TRIO
Mark Williams (Guitar) / Paul Susans (Bass) / Russ Morgan (Drums)
The Mark williams Trio draws influences from jazz, blues, rock, fusion and metal to create original music that is unique, diverse and honest. Mark Williams is a guitarist / composer from Belfast who moved to Newcastle-Upon-Tyne to complete a BMus (hons) in Jazz, Popular and Commercial music. Since then he has played and recorded alongside some of the top musicians in the country. He formed his own trio back in 2009 to showcase his own compositional and improvisational talents. The Trio have just released their second album "Last Bus To Bensham".
'Williams' playing is outstanding' - The Jazz Mann
'The trio's compositions are utterly distinctive, and serve as great vehicles for fine playing from all three members of the trio' - Paul Bream (Jazz Alert)
THE JEFF HERR CORPORATION
Jeff Herr (Drums) / Maxime Bender (Saxophones) / Laurent Payfert (Double Bass)
The Jeff Herr Corporation is a Luxembourgish jazz trio founded in 2003 by the drummer and composer Jeff Herr. At that time a quartet, it consisted of musicians that Herr had met during his studies in Maastricht: Carlo Nardozza (trumpet), Joonas Lorenz (Fender Rhodes and synthesizer) and Tom Van Acker (double bass). The band was signed by Waltzing- Parke Records (WPR) in 2004 and released their first album “Modern Times” in 2005. A second album, “Conspiracy!”, followed in 2007.
In 2013, the line up changed from four to three. The new corporation surprises with dexterity and presents itself as a linear trio, without the need for a harmonic instrument. Jeff Herr on drums, Maxime Bender on saxophone and Laurent Payfert on double bass form a highly skilled and energetic trio which relies on the compositional abilities of each of the three members. Well arranged and structured songs as well as wild and free improvisations cover the bands large repertoire, which is filled with surprising cover songs from iconic pop artists such as David Bowie or Jimi Hendrix.
Describing their style as “modern vintage”, the trio oscillates between a rather traditional, acoustic sound, without so-called modern sound elements such as keyboard, synthesiser or guitar effects, and contemporary compositions with improvised sections that enable the musicians to develop their play to the fullest. The strength and tightness of the band emerge from a strong rhythmical impact and emphasise the origins of music: the groove.
Their 2014 album “Layer Cake” received critical and public acclaim in Luxembourg as well as abroad. Numerous concerts, in the Benelux, France, Germany, the UK, Romania, Greece, Japan, Vietnam, India and Russia, contributed to the Jeff Herr Corporation’s both national and international success. In 2015, the band received the Export Artist of the Year Award (music:LX) in the Jazz category.
'Jeff Herr is the terrific driving force behind a trio that is a direct descendant of Sonny Rollins’ - Jazz News
MIKE DE SOUZA TRIO
Sunday 27th October
8.00pm (doors: 7.30pm)
The Bridge Hotel
£8 / £6 Concessions
MIKE DE SOUZA TRIO
Mike De Souza (Guitar and Compositions) / Huw V Williams (Double and Electric Bass) / Jay Davis (Drums)
Led by guitarist Mike De Souza this new trio perform all new original music, that seeks to take the typical ‘Guitar-led Jazz Trio’, and infuse innovative concepts of sound and structure, from bands such as Radiohead and 'Deerhoof' to name but a few influences.
This Trio also features two of the most exciting and distinctive rising stars from London’s vibrant jazz scene, drummer Jay Davis, and bassist Huw V Williams who first met as students at Leeds College of Music in 2009. Together they helped co-found the band ‘Big Bad Wolf'.
Huw and Jay first played together as Yamaha Jazz Scholars in 2012, and since then have gone on to play together as a rhythm section in many different projects. This Trio plays extensive and intricate compositions, that are bolstered by energetic improvisations, empathic interactions and daring explorations.
GREG ABATE and THE PAUL EDIS TRIO
Thursday 7th November
(Doors 7.30pm / Music Starts 8.00pm)
The Black Swan - Newcastle
£10 / £8 Concessions
GREG ABATE and THE PAUL EDIS TRIO
Greg Abate (Saxes and Flute) / Paul Edis (Keyboards) / Andy Champion (Bass) / Russ Morgan (Drums)
Greg Abate jazz saxophonist, flutist, composer continues as an International Jazz / Recording Artist with 225 days a year touring the globe. In the mid 70’s after finishing a four year program at Berklee College Of Music, Greg played lead alto for the Ray Charles Orchestra for 2 years.
In 1978 Greg formed his group Channel One which was a favourite in the New England area and from there had the opportunity to play tenor sax with the revived Artie Shaw Orchestra under leadership of Dick Johnson from 1986 to ’87. Following this experience Greg ventured out as post hard bop soloist playing Jazz Festivals, Jazz Societies and Jazz Clubs throughout the U.S. Canada and abroad, including most of Europe, UK, and Moscow and Georgia Russia.
It's great to see Greg return to Newcastle to perform with Paul Edis and the first call rhythm section featuring Andy Champion and Russ Morgan. Previous Jazz North East concerts with Greg have sold out so advance booking is recommended!
"Greg Abate is an absolute powerhouse who will absolutely not let hard driving bebop die.
One of the most exciting players around today, Greg’s commitment to the music is total…" – W. Pickowitz, Jr. (The Jazz Messenger)
This concert is presented by Jazz North East in association with The Black Swan Bar and Venue at Newcastle Arts Centre
EMMA JOHNSON'S GRAVY BOAT
Saturday 16th November
(Doors 7.30pm / Music Starts 8.00pm)
The Globe - Newcastle
£10 / £8 Concessions
EMMA JOHNSON'S GRAVY BOAT
Emma Johnson (Tenor Saxophone) / Calvin Travers (Guitar) / Sam Quintana (Bass Guitar) / Alasdair Wells (Drums)
Emma Johnson’s Gravy Boat is a project led by Leeds based saxophonist and composer Emma Johnson.
Emma's writing displays a contemporary sound rooted by infectious melodies and the group have been described as demonstrating a “strong and joyful bond, immediately apparent in their sound”. Gravy Boat is a band that aspires to write and perform melodic, accessible jazz that anyone can enjoy. Tracks from their debut EP have recently been played on Radio 3 and is available online, as well as a suite of videos entitled 'Seafarer's Suite' which were released over the course of 2018.
Having been selected by Jazz North as one of this years Northern Line acts, Emma Johnson's Gravy Boat are currently sailing around the UK performing at many prominent festivals before setting to work on their debut album, due for release in 2020.
This concert is presented by Jazz North East and Jazz Coop at The Globe in association with Jazz North 'Northern Line'.
DEEP TIDE QUARTET
Sunday 1st December
(Doors 7.30pm / Music Starts 8.00pm)
The Bridge Hotel - Newcastle
£8 / £6 Concessions
DEEP TIDE QUARTET
Martin Archer (Saxophones) / Kim Macari (Trumpet) / Laura Cole (Piano) / Walt Shaw (Percussion)
Open ended jazz playing with no stylistic limits – written scores, graphic scores, improvisation – improvisation which is inclusive of melody and structure – whatever we feel like playing – plenty of space for the music to develop its direction – concentrated and careful listening - ultimately rooted in, and building on the tradition of, pure jazz skill no matter where the music takes us (Martin Archer)
"Contemporary composition / improv does not get much better than this" - Nick Lea (JAZZ VIEWS)
"If the group have a signature it’s their use of breathing space, with musicians, all exceptional listeners'" – Mike Barnes (THE WIRE)
Martin Archer is a composer / improviser who is equally at home on stage or in the studio, and whose distinctive saxophone playing is rooted in AACM jazz. "Archer's aesthetic is an intriguing and transformative one—whatever enters his world comes out changed, if not utterly, then beautifully." – Duncan Heining (All About Jazz)
Kim Macari is a musician and composer immersed in the jazz and improvised music scene. Whether as a performer, teacher or a producer, her passion lies in the strength of improvised music as a means of expression and a form of empowerment and freedom. "Macari plays fearlessly" – Bebop Spoken Here
Laura Cole is a pianist and composer, working in the fields of both improvised music and contemporary jazz. Cole leads and writes for her own octet, Metamorphic, and is involved in various different projects and collaborations across the UK music scene.
"Laura Cole has one of the most distinctive compositional voices around." – Peter Quinn (Jazzwise)
Walt Shaw says - I'm an abstract painter and percussionist and in my head they are one and the same process.
"Walt relishes being in the deep end of spontaneity, chance and the unknown." - Professor Simon Piasecki (Head of Dance, Drama and Performance at Hope University, Liverpool)
MAGPIE
Sunday 8th December
(Doors 7.30pm / Music Starts 8.00pm)
The Bridge Hotel - Newcastle
£8 / £6 Concessions
MAGPIE
George Crowley (Sax) / Tom Farmer (Bass) / Sam Jesson (Drums)
Drummer and composer Sam Jesson has been a key figure on the London Jazz scene for some time now, and this tour marks his debut as a bandleader, in trio with Tom Farmer (Empirical) and George Crowley (Ivo Neame Quartet).
United by their love for the tradition of legendary jazz trios from Ahmed Jamal to Sonny Rollins, Oscar Peterson to Dewey Redman, the trio wind their way through many gems of the jazz canon - some lesser known than others – sometimes deconstructing and breathing new life, sometimes paying homage to classic arrangements, with a devoted focus on making music that feels honest and joyous.
Reflex CD (Nun Street - Newcastle) 0191 260 3246
info@jazznortheast.com
Admission is generally possible through payment on the door subject to venue capacity
Our concessionary rate is available to MU / NUS / OAP / Benefits