INTERVIEW: Newcastle Festival of Jazz and Improved Music

Image: Zoe Rahman by Ilze Kitshoff

The Newcastle Festival of Jazz and Improved Music takes place in the city from Friday 22^nd September and across two glorious extended weekends from Thursday 28^th September-Sunday 1^st October and Thursday 5^th-Sunday 8^th October.

Now in its seventh year the festival is an established musical highlight and this year’s programme includes some amazing new artists, who as Artistic Director and Producer Wesley Stephenson explains are “people who haven’t appeared in Newcastle before, who I really want to bring in, as that’s even more exciting for audiences to see these musicians perform. We work alongside the Arts Council and their values of diversity and equality are good ones; I tailor what I do when curating the programme.”

Well-known names and upcoming stars make up what Stephenson describes as “the most challenging and interesting programme yet” in the festival’s history across venues including Jesmond United Reform Church, which hosts Paul Edis and Graeme Wilson and Three Tsuru Origami (Friday 22^nd September) and acclaimed pianist Zoe Rahman with a full band (Thursday 28^th September). Another real coup are the performances of Jon Bradley, who will be playing the Edith Adamson Carillon, the built-in organ at Newcastle Civic Centre each Friday (22^nd, 29^th and 6^th) from 3pm-4pm, reaching around 8,000 people in the Haymarket area and beyond with its unique and rare sounds. “These performances are part of extending the festival beyond the venues themselves and having audiences engage with jazz in differing ways.” Stephenson says. To that end, venues have been chosen to host performers that best showcase their music, providing interesting spaces like Jesmond United Reform Church, Bobiks, The Lit & Phil’s Society Members Library and Loftus Room, The Globe and Blank Studios.

These performances are part of extending the festival beyond the venues themselves and having audiences engage with jazz in differing ways

Asking Wesley about his highlights and recommendations is akin to having a parent select their favourite child, as all the unique musicians and performances lined up bring something special and he’s rightly passionate about everything, however a few performances do come to mind. “Italian trumpet player Gabrielle Mitelli [Three Tsuru Origami, Jesmond United Reformed Church, Friday 22^nd September] is rarely in the country. Rie Nakajima is an amazing sound/performance artist, Swiss trombone player Samuel Blaser with his trio, again is rarely in the country and I’ve been trying to book him since the festival started. Then there’s Laura Toxvaerd with Jeppe Zeeberg [all playing at The Lit & Phil on Saturday 7^th October) – Laura’s a really wonderful saxophone player and Jeppe is a piano player out of this world, they’re going to be exceptional.”

There are so many great performers and line-ups to enjoy besides the highlights mentioned, so be sure to check out the full programme online and book your tickets ASAP as gigs can sell out fast.

Newcastle Festival of Jazz and Improved Music takes place at various venues on Friday 22^nd September, from Thursday 28^th September-Sunday 1^st October and Thursday 5^th-Sunday 8^th October.