Launched in 2017, the Newcastle Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music continues to respond to the city’s appetite for a contemporary grassroots jazz festival, presenting an innovative and diverse international line-up, celebrating and pushing boundaries that challenge perceptions of jazz and improvised music.
This year, organisers welcome new performance spaces including Jesmond Swimming Pool and the legendary Tyneside music haunt, The Cumberland Arms, alongside regular venues Gosforth Civic Theatre, The Globe and the Newcastle Literary and Philosophical Society.
Wesley Stephenson, Artistic Director and Festival Producer, noted: “We have a special collaboration with the Friday Night Chill Out at Jesmond Pool, and we’ll be featuring live soundtracking to a selection of historic surrealist films in Gosforth, working with the help of Northern Silents, once again also commissioning a series of recorded Interludes that can be heard over the PA systems across the festival events and available through New Jazz and Improvised Music Recordings.”
He added: “We continue to work with our lead partners Jazz North East, but also other key regional promoters including Jazz.Coop, GemArts, and this year we also welcome Endless Window into the fold.”
Speaking about the line-up itself, and its diversity, Wayne explained: “Alongside British and International UK-based artists, this year we’re delighted to be bringing musicians from Copenhagen, Holland, Switzerland, Japan and the USA. Newcastle Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music gratefully acknowledges Arts Council England, associated partners and funders for their support.”
The line-up includes big names plus experimental musicians that many will never have heard of, mixed with luminaries from the jazz scene in the North East. It’s a complex and fascinating mix.
Expect to hear fascinating sets from Faye MacCalman, Jeppe Zeeberg and the Absolute Pinnacle of Human Achievement, Warp/weft, Taupe, Ingrid Laubrock, Tom Rainey, Johnny Hunter, John Pope, Alcyona Mick, Juliana Day, Satoko Fujii, Amirtha Kidambi with Manon McCoy, Ziv Taubenfeld, Olie Brice, Kresten Osgood, Andy Champion, Izumi Kimura and Gerry Hemingway, Aruán Ortiz, Shunyata Improvisation Group, J.A.M. String Collective, Tara Cunningham, The Flame, Catriona Bourne Quartet, Heather Ferrier and Emma Johnson’s Gravy Boat.
A notable highlight is Danish pianist Jeppe Zeeberg with his modestly named band The Absolute Pinnacle of Human Achievement. Zeeberg was at last year’s festival with a duo and was a big hit.
For further information, including details regarding tickets and the full line-up, head to jazznortheast.com/FESTIVAL.
