Norma Winstone Photo credit: Artist’s website

Editor-at-Large Peter Bacon writes:

The first big UK jazz festival of the year, the Gateshead International Jazz Festival, will be held next year from Friday to Sunday, 6-8 April, with tickets going on sale tomorrow.

The headlining acts are: Sun Ra Arkestra, Tony Allen, Norma Winstone, Portico Quartet, The Chris Barber Band, Ruby Turner, Maceo Parker, and Georgie Fame with The Guy Barker Big Band.

Providing the new work Gateshead-born guitarist Chris Sharkey. He will perform with drummer Mark Sanders. This concert will open with a set by one of the two winners of the 2018 ‘Jazz North Introduces’ award, the all-female trio J Frisco.

Mixing music with food will be food writer, broadcaster and part-time pianist Jay Rayner. Sage Gateshead’s youth jazz ensemble Jambone will show the results of their work with guest composers James Brady and Issie Barratt.

Ros Rigby, Festival Producer – she is also Chair of Europe Jazz Network – said: “The programme of the 14th Gateshead International Jazz Festival presents iconic figures from jazz worldwide as well as presenting a picture of the vitality of jazz right across Europe, made possible with support from embassies and funders in the Netherlands, Estonia, Italy and Norway. We hope that the festival will appeal to audiences of all ages and musical interests, and, as before, create a welcoming atmosphere right through this action packed weekend.”

This European focus is visible with five shows. There  is a solo piano night featuring Dutch-based pianist Kaja Draksler, Italian pianist Giovanni Guidi, Bojan Z (Serbia /France) and Alexander Hawkins (UK), two shows featuring Dutch band Tin Men and the Telephone, an Estonian afternoon, and a show with Norwegian trumpeter Arve Henriksen working with the keyboard and drums duo SCHNIZL, both players originally from West Flanders in Belgium.

The Jazz Multibuy is not a new variant on the small Honda favoured by pensioners but the idea that the more tickets you buy the better the price.

Tickets go on general sale Friday 24 November, 10am online at sagegateshead.com and 12 noon at Ticket Office either in person or by calling 0191 443 4661. Sage Supporter pre-sale is already happening.

Tickets can be bought at www.sagegateshead.com or by calling 0191 443 4661.