jazzaction developing jazz in the north east

jazz & improvised music

 

THE GARDEN BAR

Darlington Arts Centre
Vane Terrace
Darlington
DL3 7AX

 

Tel: (01325) 348843

 

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 11th - 12.00 noon till 6.00pm

Doors open 12.00noon - admission for the whole afternoon £4.00

 

LAUNCH CONCERT FEATURING FOUR TOP JAZZ ENSEMBLES

 

12.30 SAXOPHONICS

SAXOPHONICS is a jazz saxophone quartet.
Recently they have performed at a number of Jazz venues within the North East region, including The Sage Gateshead International Jazz Festival, and Stockton International Riverside Festival.

Led by Keith Robinson, their repertoire is a mixture of straight-ahead swing, Latin, ballads and specialised contemporary jazz arrangements. Many of these have been written and arranged by Graeme Wilson, their tenor saxophonist. Most pieces feature an improvised solo section with accompaniment in intricate harmony and counterpoint.

The end result is a blend of compositional complexity, cohesive tightness, and fiery improvisations, which gives the group its distinct identity.

Saxophonics are:

Keith Robinson:          alto and soprano sax
Steve Summers:         alto and tenor sax
Graeme Wilson:          tenor sax and arranger
Niall Armstrong:         baritone sax

2.00pm ACV

ACV was formed in the Spring of 2009 by Bassist Andy Champion as a vehicle to showcase his compositions. The music draws from his main influences - Jazz, Progressive Rock and Metal with a healthy amount of free-improvisation thrown in for good measure. ACV have just finished recording their debut album and plan to perform to as many people as possible.

Andy Champion - Double Bass
Graeme Wilson - Tenor & Baritone Sax
Paul Edis - Keyboards
Mark Williams - Guitar
Adrian Tilbrook - Drums

 

3.30 Alter Ego

Since their debut performance in 2008 Alter Ego have entertained audiences at many North East jazz venues and festivals. The group seldom perform jazz standards, preferring instead to delve into the rich catalogue of original compositions created by the likes of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, Hank Mobley, and Miles Davis. The result is a stylistically varied programme including Up-tempo Swing, Hard Bop, Funk and Latin Jazz.

The group's instrumentation allows for tightly structured arrangements, with harmonically rich ensemble passages, exciting rhythmic interplay and inventive improvised solos from all band members.

Keith Robinson – Alto Sax
Niall Armstrong – Tenor Sax/Flute
Dave Hignett – Trumpet/Flugelhorn
Andy Hawking – Piano
Ian Paterson – Bass
David Francis - Drums

 

5.00 Claude Werner Quartet

Since arriving on Tyneside from Chile, via New York and Barcelona, Claude has become one of the busiest saxophonists on the scene, yet his own quartet has made few appearances. His recent CD ‘Thoughts & Recollections’ shows what we’ve been missing, so this is a chance to catch up with his warmly expressive playing on his own intriguing compositions.

"Claude Werner has a great tenor sound that draws richly upon his knowledge of the tradition, his trio allows for ample space in which it can take centre stage"
Tim Garland

 

FROM SEPTEMBER 20th - Fortnightly Monday night sessions in the Garden Bar

 

Doors open 7.30pm - Concert starts 8.00pm

ADMISSION £4.00

SEPTEMBER 20th

NICK PRIDE & THE PIMPTONES

The Pimptones is the brainchild of Nick Pride, a jazz guitarist with a passion for Hip-Hop, Soul and Funk.
Playing original material in the style of The Meters, Maceo Parker, JTQ and Charlie Hunter, the band is equally at home in a noisy nightclub or intimate jazz setting.
From supporting Candi Staton and Youngblood Brass Band, to playing The North East Funk and Soul Review and The Gateshead International Jazz Festival, the groups reputation has grown since its birth in 2007.
2009 sees the release of the quintet's first CD "It's The Pimptones" (Jazz Girl Records)

Alex Leathard - Trombone/vocals
Dave Wilde - Sax/Flute/vocals
Nick Pride - Guitar/vocals
Ian Paterson - Bass/vocals
Oz Cassidy - Drums
with
Graham Hardy - Trumpet/Flugel
John Wheeler - Tenor Sax
Keith Nicholson - Trumpet

 

OCTOBER 4th

John Warrens 'SPLINTER GROUP'

Internationally renowned composer John Warren leads his new northern based octet.
Warren's contribution to North East jazz through the Voice of the North Orchestra has
been immeasurable: this new project has the potential to be just as important.

This is a sensational new band featuring the finest players in the north.

 

 

OCTOBER 18th

HCW

HCW are led by drummer/composer John Hirst with Edd Carr (guitar) and Christos Worsley (bass). Formed in2008 their music mixes the harmonic language of jazz with the immediacy of rock and blues. They've performed at NEJC showcase nights Splinter @ The Bridge, the Gateshead International Jazz Festival the Stockton Riverside Fringe Festival and they're recording their first CD later this year.

 

 

 

 

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Approaching from the South

From the A1 take the A66(M) exit. At the first roundabout take the 2nd exit heading for Darlington Town Centre, which takes you past the Blackwell Grange Hotel on your left. At the Sainsburys roundabout take the 2nd exit, which leads onto Stanhope Road South. Follow the road until you reach a small roundabout. Turn left onto Abbey Road, and then take the 1st turning on your right into Vane Terrace. The Arts Centre is located approx. 50 yards on your left.

 Approaching from the North

From the A1, take the A68 exit. Follow the road into town (approx 2 miles) until you reach the village of Cockerton. At the roundabout, follow the A68 into Darlington Town Centre by taking the 1st exit, then the 1st exit at the next roundabout, which takes you onto Woodland Road. You will see signs for the Darlington Memorial Hospital on your left, and shortly after a pelican crossing turn right into Vane Terrace. The Arts Centre is located approx. 100 yards on your right.

 Approaching from the East

From the A66, follow the A66(M) the new road which connects to the A1(M). Go straight over at the next 3 roundabouts. You will see Stressholme Golf Course on your right. At the next roundabout where the Reg Vardy Garage is situated, take the 3rd exit heading for Darlington Town Centre, which takes you past the Blackwell Grange Hotel on your left. At the Sainsburys roundabout take the 2nd exit, which leads onto Stanhope Road South. Follow the road until you reach a small roundabout. Turn left onto Abbey Road, and then take the 1st turning on your right into Vane Terrace. The Arts Centre is located approx. 50 yards on your left.

 Public transport to Darlington Arts Centre

Darlington Arts Centre is accessible from Darlington Railway Station. For timetable information telephone National Rail Enquiries on 08457 484950 or visit their website. The Arts Centre is a short taxi ride away or a 15 minute walk through the town centre.

 

Link to Splinter @ The Bridge Newcastle upon Tyne

'Splinter' is a new series of fortnightly concerts featuring jazz and improvised music from the best of the dynamic young groups who've emerged in the North East over the past five years. Organised by regional jazz development agency JazzAction, the programme will cover a wide range of styles from the post bop sounds of Extreme Measures (the band that really kick started the regional jazz explosion), via the tightly drilled jazz-funk of Nick Pride and the Pimptones, to the exciting contemporary approach of bassist Andy Champion's acclaimed quintet ACV, with plenty of other great bands in between. Nearly all of them also write their own material, so this is a chance to catch up with the cream of the region's jazz musicians, and to hear some superb original tunes.