Gateshead International Jazz Festival

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The fourth Gateshead International Jazz Festival ( March 28 - 30, 2008) celebrates the past, present and future of jazz, with a fresh look at tradition celebrating the creativity of world class artists such as the charismatic Cleo Laine (see photo) and John Dankworth, a rare appearance from the great Gilberto Gil and quintessential jazz guitarist John Scofield. Plus, a late night set in collaboration with the legendary label Blue Note will feature the label's hottest new signing Robert Glasper.

Just this week the Festival was featured in the Guardian's top five highlights of the 2008 jazz calendar, as selected by John Fordham - no mean feat for such a young festival!

John Cumming, Director of Serious, international live music producers and partners of The Sage Gateshead for the Festival, explains some of the reasons for its rapid success: “Gateshead International Jazz Festival has grown to become a distinctive and important addition to the British jazz festival scene, with a mix of music that reflects the music's deep traditions as well as the myriad directions that jazz is now taking. What makes the Festival really special, though, is a significant education element that takes full advantage of the Learning and Participation resources that are such a key part of The Sage Gateshead's activity and Festival artists will lead workshops and classes alongside their performances, creating a great atmosphere throughout the weekend. This year's programme includes a number of fantastic international artists, including a Brazilian theme headlined by the country's iconic singer/songwriter Gilberto Gil, but sparks are also sure to fly from today's generation of up-and-coming bands from the UK: Acoustic Ladyland and Fulborn Teversham (both feature Seb Rochford from Polar Bear), Gwilym Simcock, Neil Cowley, Fraud, Finn Peters and the international award-winning Empirical - not to mention Denmark's Ibrahim Electric - are just some of the artists of the future who are sure to make a massive impact."

Always eclectic, past Festivals have featured world class jazz artists such as e.s.t., Branford Marsalis, Gilles Peterson, Dee Dee Bridgewater, John Etheridge, Maceo Parker, Ketil Bjrnstad, The Brazz Brothers, the McCoy Tyner Trio, BBC Big Band with Phil Woods and Lea deLaria, Courtney Pine, Jazz Jamaica, Airto Moreira, Andy Sheppard and many, many more.

As well bringing major international artists to the North East, the Festival continues to showcase young musicians setting out and The Sage Gateshead's own award-winning youth big band Jambone will be performing some material specially prepared for the Festival in a double bill with new jazz/rock ensemble Rocket Science.

Saturday 29th throws the spotlight on the music of Brazil, with the sounds and grooves of samba and Bossa Nova taking centre stage. Until very recently, Gilberto Gil occupied a unique dual role as Brazil's Minister of Culture as well as being one of the country's best-loved performers, and a massive international star. He makes a very rare solo appearance outside London with a set of songs that stretch back over twenty-five years of a fascinating career, including tracks from his acclaimed CD 'Luminoso', one of the New York Times' top ten picks of 2007. Continuing into the night, the music just keeps on going - the Brazilian Late Night Dance Party features Monica Vasconcelos and her fabulous band performing in The Jazz Lounge, and the king of Brazilian grooves himself, DJ Patrick Forge, host of the longest running Brazilian club night at Notting Hill Arts Centre in London, spins Brazilian music of all kinds in a late night dance set on the Concourse.

Previous years have seen popular activities for all the family, and 2008 is no exception - on Saturday and Sunday between 10am to 5pm you can pick up the JazzDaze Family Trail, a specially designed mystery jazz trail starting and finishing at the high-tech music information centre, ExploreMusic, on the main Concourse. Entry is free and there's more information on JazzDaze, a useful jazz resource specially commissioned from Courtney Pine, at www.jazzdaze.org.

For the first time the orchestra of The Sage Gateshead, Northern Sinfonia, takes part in the Festival. On the Dark Side is an exciting programme of contemporary music inspired by jazz and improvisation, including a major new concerto by composer Peter Weigold performed by leading cellist (recently seen on BBC TV's 'Classical Star') Matthew Barley, plus work by saxophonist and composer Tim Garland. But the orchestra are no strangers to contemporary jazz, having already worked with Tim on his critically acclaimed CD 'The Mystery' which also featured the legendary Chick Corea. “A genuinely fine record featuring some wonderful arrangements of original pieces from Garland...vital, essential music for anyone interested in the future of jazz composition," Jazzwise.

As well as celebrating the music of today, the Festival takes an affectionate look back at its rich traditions. The timeless double act of Britain's jazz aristocracy, Dame Cleo Laine and Sir John Dankworth delve into a repertoire stretching back some six decades; there's an irresistibly swinging tribute to the Dixieland era of Bunny Berigan, Benny Goodman, Bix Beiderbecke and Bing Crosby; and Robert Glasper, Dylan Howe and DJ Dean Rudland tip their hat to the classic sounds of the Blue Note label.

Finally, the Festival welcomes the commitment of local North East promoters Schmazz/A Better Noise for a free jazz with a co-promotion featuring British drummer Eddie Prvost with improvising pianist and one of Europe's premier free jazz band leaders, Alexander von Schlippenbach. All of this runs alongside workshops for all ages and abilities, Jazz Action jam sessions and teatime slots for local bands including Extreme Measures, there's also a strong local connection as well as big name international artists.

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